Chennai, 21 August (H.S.):Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has assured Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan that his government will consider exempting Kerala from restrictions on the interstate movement of construction materials, including stone aggregates.

The assurance came during talks between the Chief Ministers on Thursday on the sidelines of the Southern Zonal Council meeting at Mahabalipuram. Satheesan warned that the restrictions could disrupt the supply of aggregates required for National Highway and major infrastructure works across Kerala.

He urged Tamil Nadu to review the regulations in light of Kerala's specific requirements and limited availability of suitable construction materials. Both leaders agreed that officials from the two States would hold further discussions before an appropriate decision is taken.

Satheesan had earlier written to Vijay seeking an exemption for Kerala. In his letter, he referred to a Tamil Nadu Government Gazette notification issued on July 9, 2026, regulating the movement of stone aggregates from Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts into Kerala.

The three Tamil Nadu districts have traditionally been important sources of aggregates for road construction and other large projects in Kerala. Satheesan said the restrictions had affected supplies, disrupted construction schedules and raised concerns over possible delays to strategically important projects.

He stressed that completion of National Highway works would improve connectivity, logistics, commerce and tourism across the southern States. The projects are important for providing road links to the Vizhinjam International Seaport near Thiruvananthapuram and the International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam in Kochi.

Satheesan argued that uninterrupted availability of construction materials was not merely a Kerala-specific concern. Improved highways and port connectivity, he said, would enhance the economic competitiveness of the southern region.

The two governments are expected to continue consultations, with Kerala hoping for an early exemption that would restore supplies and prevent delays to ongoing infrastructure projects.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman