NHAI axes key officials for NH-66 collapse
Hyphen Web Desk
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The National Highways Authority of India has suspended a project director and terminated the site engineer in connection with the collapse of a section of National Highway 66 under construction at Kooriyad in Malappuram on May 19.
The collapse has raised serious concerns about construction practices and oversight.
Preliminary investigations by an expert panel led by retired IIT-Delhi professor G.V. Rao identified the foundation soil's inability to support the high embankment load as the primary cause. The affected area, a reclaimed paddy field, exhibited poor and saturated loamy soil conditions, which were inadequately assessed before construction commenced.
In response to the findings, NHAI has taken several disciplinary actions. KNR Constructions, the Hyderabad-based concessionaire responsible for the project, has been debarred from participating in future bids for up to one year and fined ₹11.8 crore. The company has also been directed to clear the debris and reconstruct the damaged section, estimated to cost around ₹80 crore, at its own expense.
The project's independent engineer, Highway Engineering Consultant, and its team leader have also been suspended. Design consultants Strata Geosystem and HBS Infra Engineers, along with safety consultant Sri Infotech, have received show-cause notices for potential debarment and penalties totaling ₹20 lakh.
The collapse has prompted the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to initiate a comprehensive review of all ongoing NH-66 projects in Kerala. A three-member expert committee, comprising representatives from IIT Palakkad, the Central Road Research Institute, and the Geological Survey of India, has been tasked with inspecting 17 project sites to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Preliminary investigations by an expert panel led by retired IIT-Delhi professor G.V. Rao identified the foundation soil's inability to support the high embankment load as the primary cause. The affected area, a reclaimed paddy field, exhibited poor and saturated loamy soil conditions, which were inadequately assessed before construction commenced.
In response to the findings, NHAI has taken several disciplinary actions. KNR Constructions, the Hyderabad-based concessionaire responsible for the project, has been debarred from participating in future bids for up to one year and fined ₹11.8 crore. The company has also been directed to clear the debris and reconstruct the damaged section, estimated to cost around ₹80 crore, at its own expense.
The project's independent engineer, Highway Engineering Consultant, and its team leader have also been suspended. Design consultants Strata Geosystem and HBS Infra Engineers, along with safety consultant Sri Infotech, have received show-cause notices for potential debarment and penalties totaling ₹20 lakh.
The collapse has prompted the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to initiate a comprehensive review of all ongoing NH-66 projects in Kerala. A three-member expert committee, comprising representatives from IIT Palakkad, the Central Road Research Institute, and the Geological Survey of India, has been tasked with inspecting 17 project sites to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
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