NH 66 Collapse In Kerala: Expert Panel Finds Most Damaged Construction Packages Violated MoRTH Specifications

An expert study has found that several damaged stretches of National Highway (NH) 66 in Kerala were built in violation of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) specifications, The Hindu reported.

The inspection report, commissioned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) after recent collapses and cracks, did not fix responsibility on any agency but exposed serious construction lapses.

The findings follow multiple incidents this year, a collapse at Kooriyad in Malappuram, sidewall failures in Kannur, and a sunken service road in Kasaragod, along with cracks in other sections, sparking public outrage.

The panel, comprising former and current experts from the Central Road Research Institute, Geological Survey of India, and IIT Palakkad, cautioned about the risk of landslides that could cause structural damage and traffic disruptions. It urged urgent mitigation measures to “safeguard against future instability.”

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The panel found that none of the construction packages adhered to the prescribed methodology for slope stabilisation using soil nailing as per the MoRTH specifications.

“Improper methodology/construction sequence followed for the slope cutting and the soil nailing method” was cited as a key cause of failures.

Designs often ignored soil layer properties and groundwater tables.

The report recommended “comprehensive geotechnical investigations, site-specific geological mapping, slope stability analyses, and foundation engineering studies” before making design changes or undertaking remedial works, especially in sensitive terrains like high vertical cut slopes, lateritic zones, and weathered rock areas.

Following the collapse, MoRTH blacklisted Andhra Pradesh-based KNR Constructions and consultancy firm Highway Engineering Consultant.

NH 66 runs nearly 600 km through major Kerala cities before entering Tamil Nadu at Karode.

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