NHAI suspends project director after NH-66 stretch collapse in Kerala
text_fields
Following the collapse of a section of National Highway-66 at Kooriyad in Kerala’s Malappuram district, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has suspended its project director and terminated the services of a site engineer.
NHAI also announced that the contractor or concessionaire responsible for the project will be required to remove the debris and rebuild the flyover at their own expense.
The incident occurred on May 19, when a 250-metre portion of the elevated highway at Kooriyad gave way. Based on an expert assessment, NHAI attributed the collapse primarily to the failure of the foundation soil to support the high embankment load.
The affected stretch is part of a 39.7-kilometre project extending from Ramanattukara to the beginning of the Valanchery bypass on NH-66, which is currently 99% complete and has a total cost of ₹2,368 crore, Indian Express reported.
The NHAI stated that a team of experts including Dr Anil Dixit from IIT Delhi, Dr Jimmy Thomas from IIT Kanpur, Dr K. Mohan Krishna from IIT Gandhinagar, and retired IIT Delhi professor G. V. Rao was formed on the day the highway collapse occurred.
The team visited the site on May 21 to investigate the cause of the failure and suggest corrective measures. According to an official, their initial findings indicate that the collapse resulted from the foundation soil’s inability to support the high embankment load.
Following the incident, NHAI took action against KNR Constructions, the Hyderabad-based concessionaire for the project, by suspending it from future bidding processes. A show-cause notice was also issued, proposing a financial penalty of ₹11.8 crore and a possible debarment for up to one year.
An official stated that the project manager of the concessionaire had been suspended following the incident. The concessionaire has also been directed to remove the debris and rebuild the damaged flyover at their own expense, with the estimated cost being around Rs 80 crore.
In addition to the concessionaire, disciplinary action was taken against the independent engineer of the project, the Highway Engineering Consultant, along with its team leader, who were also suspended.
On May 29, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) reportedly issued a show-cause notice to design firms Strata Geosystem and HBS Infra Engineers, as well as safety consultant Sri Infotech. These entities are facing potential debarment for up to one year and a fine of Rs 20 lakh.
Following the incident on May 24, NHAI is said to have formed an additional expert committee. The panel includes a retired scientist from CRRI, an associate professor from IIT-Palakkad, and a Deputy Director General from the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
This committee has been tasked with assessing other potentially vulnerable locations involving reinforced soil walls and slope protection works across 17 ongoing projects on NH-66 in Kerala.
