Kerala's cracking highways: NHAI faces scrutiny over embankment failures
National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI) set up a three-member expert committee to probe the collapse of a section of under-construction NH-66 in Malappuram. Cracks also appeared on the NH stretch and service road subsidence was reported from Thalappara in Malappuram and Malaparamba in Kozhikode. Around 4am on Tuesday, a portion of the service road between Chengala and Nileshwar caved in near Kalyan Road at Kanhangad, stopping vehicle movement.
The expert panel of
geotechnical specialists
will inspect the site and suggest fixes. NHAI project director Anshul Sharma, who visited the collapse site, said the initial assessment showed that pressure from excess water made the paddy field bulge, which created a hollow space. The soil later sank into that space. NHAI officials said that the embankment collapse was due to pressure from rainwater that seeped into the soil and that there was no engineering failure. 'We will take preventive measures based on the suggestions made by the independent committee,' said Sharma.
Collector Vinod Kumar said the road was built by depositing a large amount of earth in the paddy field, causing it to bulge later. He added that the expert committee would visit the site on Wednesday and submit its report the same day. 'The decision on precautions and how to finish the construction will be made after reviewing the report,' he said.
IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty said that local representatives and residents had warned that the elevated stretch through the paddy field wouldn't last and could lead to disaster. 'The construction seems unscientific. NHAI said the issue can be discussed again after the expert committee examines the site,' he said.
The NH stretch at Thalappara, where cracks appeared on Tuesday, is just 4km from Kooriyad. After the cracks appeared, traffic was diverted to the service road. Like Kooriyad, Thalappara is an elevated stretch, where a portion collapsed on Monday. The NH service road at Malaparamba also subsided on Tuesday and the bitumen surface was removed using JCBs.
Meanwhile, HC directed NHAI to submit a detailed report on Monday's road collapse. The bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran issued the order on Tuesday while hearing petitions about the poor condition of roads in the state. During hearing, NHAI's lawyer asked for a week to file a preliminary report. HC allowed the request and adjourned the matter to next week. A motorist first noticed the collapse in Kanhangad and alerted others. A major crack also surfaced on the six-lane NH opposite Christ CMI school near Kalyan Road. Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd is carrying out the six-laning of Chengala-Nileshwar NH-66 reach.
Collector K Inbasekar visited the spot and reviewed the situation. He said the crack was 53m long. He told reporters that initial inspection suggested the crack developed as the soil was not consolidated properly. He said NHAI would initiate an inquiry into the incidents.
Meanwhile, district administration decided to prepare a contingency plan to prevent accidents during NH-66 construction. An expert team led by deputy collector (land acquisition) has been assigned to study various spots on the highway. The team would submit a report soon, he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Flood situation improves in northeast; three die in Manipur
GUWAHATI: The flood situation in the northeastern region improved in the last 24 hours but the toll continues. According to Manipur's Directorate of Relief and Disaster Management, the State was dry on Friday, barring two areas, which experienced light rainfall. The rivers in receding mode, however, proved fatal for three persons, taking the death toll in rain-induced disasters across the region to 55. Assam recorded the most fatalities with 21 victims of floods and landslides, followed by 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six in Meghalaya and Mizoram, four in Manipur, three in Sikkim, two in Tripura, and one in Nagaland. Nine persons, including a BJP Mahila Morcha leader from Odisha, are feared dead in Sikkim after the vehicle they were travelling in fell about 1,000 feet into the Teesta River on May 29. A Guwahati-based doctor, believed to have been caught in a landslide, has been missing in Arunachal Pradesh since May 31. While 1.66 lakh people continue to be affected by floods in Manipur, mostly in the Imphal Valley, the number of flood-hit people in Assam reduced by about 1.2 lakh to 4.44 lakh across 18 districts. A flood bulletin provided by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said the Brahmaputra and four other rivers have been at certain stretches. 'We are currently operating 328 relief camps and relief distribution centres for 1.59 lakh people, who are yet to return home,' a spokesperson of the authority said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Chellanam sea erosion: Kerala HC summons Ernakulam district collector, other govt officials
1 2 Kochi: HC has directed govt officials, including the Ernakulam district collector, irrigation department officials and Chellanam grama panchayat secretary to appear in court on Thursday along with relevant files in connection with a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking protection for residents of Chellanam from sea erosion. The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji issued the order in a petition filed by T A Dalfine of Chellanam and two other residents. The 2021 petition described the recurring hardships faced by residents during monsoon. According to the petitioners, although the installation of Geo tubes had commenced as a temporary protective measure following protests by residents, the work was later abandoned. They also pointed out that despite the state govt sanctioning Rs 15 crore for the reconstruction of the damaged sea wall at nine locations, the project failed to materialise. Considering the matter, HC noted that the issue required a two-pronged approach — immediate short-term intervention in view of the approaching monsoon and a long-term permanent solution. The senior govt pleader informed HC that he would seek instructions from the officers concerned regarding urgent measures. Similar submissions were made by counsel for Chellanam panchayat. In view of the urgency and to prevent further delay, HC directed the senior govt pleader and the panchayat counsel to ensure that their respective officers appear before court on June 5 with all necessary documents.
Mint
4 days ago
- Mint
Oil Steadies With Focus on Canada Wildfires, US Crude Stockpiles
Oil steadied after a two-day gain as rains slowed the growth of some blazes which had disrupted Canadian crude production. Brent traded around $65 a barrel after closing at a three-week high on Tuesday, while West Texas Intermediate was near $63. One Canadian operator restarted a site after shutting down last week, with wildfires halting about 7% of output at one stage in the world's fourth-largest producer. Separately, the American Petroleum Institute reported US crude inventories dropped by 3.28 million barrels last week, according to a person familiar with the figures. That would be the biggest draw since March if confirmed by official data later on Wednesday. Oil rose at the start of the week after a decision by OPEC to raise production in July was in line with expectations, easing concerns over a bigger hike. However, prices are still down about 12% this year on fears around a looming supply glut, and worries that US-led trade wars could hurt demand. 'In the short term, the market shows a slightly bullish trend amid volatility,' said Gao Mingyu, Beijing-based chief energy analyst at SDIC Essence Futures Co. 'But OPEC 's rapid output increase makes it difficult for the supply-demand tightness that's driven by seasonal and geopolitical factors to persist.' Saudi Arabia led increases in OPEC oil production last month as the group began its series of accelerated supply additions, according to a Bloomberg survey. Nevertheless, the hike fell short of the full amount the kingdom could have added under the agreements. The OECD, meanwhile, cut its outlook for global economic growth on Tuesday, with the US among the hardest hit. President Donald Trump is pushing ahead with his tariffs, signing a directive that doubles rates on steel and aluminum. To get Bloomberg's Energy Daily newsletter in your inbox, click here. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
