THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though the work on NH-66 from Thalappady on the Kerala-Karnataka border to Karode on the Tamil Nadu border is progressing, contractors fear that the execution of the project may get delayed as there is an intense shortage of red soil. The reason cited is the stringent restrictions imposed by the mining and geology department of the state government on quarrying.Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kannur are the districts that face issues in getting permission for quarrying.