Kerala’s National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken swift action following the collapse of a 250-metre stretch of the NH-66 embankment at Kooriyad in Malappuram district. On May 19, heavy rainfall and inadequate soil support caused the elevated highway section to cave in, halting traffic and exposing safety lapses.
In response, NHAI has suspended the project director and terminated the site engineer responsible for oversight. KNR Constructions, the concessionaire handling the 39.7-km Ramanattukara–Valanchery bypass, must clear debris and rebuild the damaged section at its own expense, at an estimated cost of around ₹80 crore. Show-cause notices and penalties have also been issued to design and safety consultants—Strata Geosystem, HBS Infra Engineers, and Sri Infotech—citing flawed design and insufficient geotechnical assessment.
A high-level expert committee led by retired IIT Delhi professor G.V. Rao, with members from IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, and the Central Road Research Institute, has been tasked with auditing all 17 NH-66 projects in Kerala. This expert opinion will guide stricter construction standards and geotechnical protocols. Their preliminary findings point to poor soil testing and cost-cutting that omitted a needed bridge over a paddy field. The Public Accounts Committee has mandated a Comptroller and Auditor General audit, with a detailed report due within three weeks.
NHAI Chairman Santhosh Kumar Yadav will personally inspect affected sites across seven districts to ensure compliance. As this major highway project—99 percent complete at a cost of ₹2,368 crore—undergoes corrective construction and expert-led review, authorities emphasize that robust geotechnical evaluations and adherence to best practices are essential to prevent future failures.
