Thiruvananthapuram: Santosh Kumar Yadav, Chairman of the National Highways Authority of India, today arrived in Kerala to inspect highway projects and hold discussions following the collapse of a 276-metre stretch of National Highway 66 at Kooriyad in Malappuram district on May 19, 2025. The incident occurred on the under-construction six-lane Ramanattukara-Valanchery section, spanning 39.7 kilometres, damaging the adjacent service road and three parked vehicles. No injuries occurred. A team led by a retired professor from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi conducted a preliminary assessment, identifying the failure of foundation soils to support high embankment loads as the primary cause, worsened by heavy rainfall, causing water seepage and soil displacement. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) responded by initiating punitive measures against those responsible and planning remedial actions to address the situation.
On June 1, 2025, Yadav began his visit by inspecting project stretches in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, focusing on areas with structural sensitivities and drainage challenges. He was accompanied by technical experts, the concessionaire, the independent engineer, the project director of Thiruvananthapuram, and the National Highways Authority of India Regional Officer for Kerala. The inspection covered locations such as Enchakkal, Kazhakuttom, Chembakamangalam, Kottayam, and Mevaram, where vertical high-cut sections require evaluation for stability and water flow management to ensure quality construction and public safety.
The Kooriyad collapse, constructed by KNR Constructions Limited on a reclaimed paddy field near the Kooriyad service station, revealed significant lapses in project execution. The National Highways Authority of India determined that the concessionaire failed to verify ground conditions and enhance ground-bearing capacity before starting work. Consequently, the authority barred KNR Constructions Limited from participating in ongoing and future bidding with immediate effect. Highway Engineering Consultants, the project consultant, faced the same restriction. The project manager of the concessionaire and the team leader of the consultant were suspended. The National Highways Authority of India issued a show-cause notice to KNR Constructions Limited, proposing a penalty of 11.8 crore rupees and a potential one-year debarment. The concessionaire must clear debris and construct a new flyover at an estimated cost of 80 crore rupees, with all expenses borne by them.
On May 22, 2025, the National Highways Authority of India formed a three-member expert panel, including representatives from the Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad, the Central Road Research Institute, and the Geological Survey of India, under the supervision of a retired Indian Institute of Technology Delhi professor. The panel visited the site to investigate the collapse and recommend corrective measures. Their report, due within three weeks, will inform the reconstruction of the collapsed section, including a proposed 400-metre-long viaduct, which KNR Constructions Limited has committed to completing within four months. On May 24, 2025, a committee was established to evaluate other vulnerable locations with reinforced soil walls and slope protection works across 17 ongoing National Highway 66 projects in Kerala, with plans to issue guidelines to prevent future incidents.
Yadav’s visit includes a high-level review meeting with all National Highways Authority of India project directors, concessionaires, consultants, and contractors involved in Kerala’s highway projects. The meeting will discuss accelerating project timelines, improving construction quality, enhancing monitoring systems, and reducing public inconvenience. Yadav will also meet the Chief Secretary of Kerala to address critical challenges, including resolving systemic bottlenecks, improving coordination between state and central agencies, and planning interventions for efficient project execution.
The Kooriyad incident sparked significant public and political concern. Residents and environmental activists had warned about constructing on waterlogged paddy fields, citing risks to drainage systems and ecological damage. E.T. Muhammad Basheer, Indian Union Muslim League leader and Malappuram Member of Parliament, met Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, on May 21, 2025, to raise safety concerns about National Highway 66 stretches in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, and Thrissur. Gadkari promised a thorough investigation and a structural safety audit. On May 23, 2025, the Kerala High Court, addressing petitions about poor road conditions, directed the National Highways Authority of India to submit a report by May 29, 2025, detailing the collapse’s causes and proposed solutions. The authority acknowledged construction lapses and confirmed the viaduct plan in its submission.
Additional incidents have raised concerns about National Highway 66’s structural integrity. Cracks and damage occurred in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur, and Kasaragod districts, including a service road collapse in Kasaragod. Protests emerged in Chavakkad and Taliparamba over construction disruptions and safety issues. The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Congress Member of Parliament K.C. Venugopal, noted the lack of a high-level technical panel to oversee the projects, which have a cumulative cost exceeding 30,000 crore rupees. The committee ordered an emergency site visit by a team led by Yadav on May 31, June 1, and June 2, 2025, to inspect risky stretches and ensure preventive measures. The National Highways Authority of India stated it remains committed to delivering a robust highway network, prioritising quality construction and seamless travel for users.
– global bihari bureau
