Quarry strike likely to stall National Highway widening works

he indefinite strike declared by a section of quarry and crusher unit operators from January 26 is likely to hit the ongoing national highway widening works in Kozhikode district. Contractors and engineers associated with the road projects say they have been already facing a shortage of supply to meet the existing demand.

“Chances are high for the further delay in the completion of the Vengalam-Azhiyoor stretch of the National Highway, where the project execution has been going at a snail’s pace for months,” said a contractor associated with the work. He said the already procured stock would be empty soon, which would also affect the pace of future construction works.

Meanwhile, quarry and crusher operators who expressed solidarity with the strike said they would not be able to continue with their ventures with the reluctance of the government to sanction new units and the hefty fine imposed on even small violations. They alleged that the fine amount for even minor violations witnessed a four-fold hike, which could not be tolerated by small-scale operators in the field.

M.K. Babu, president of Kerala Mining and Crusher Owners Association, said the indefinite strike would equally hit the house construction sector. He also alleged that attempts to address the shortage of quarry products by encouraging product supply from neighbouring States would only cause further loss to the government in its tax collection.

The association functionaries claimed that the shortage of quarry products had already crippled the construction of houses under various government schemes. The total number of quarries which was above 500 in 2024 plunged to below 100 due to the hostile policies of the government towards the operators and the reluctance to address their basic demands, they said.