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The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
NH-66 collapse in Kerala: Centre debars construction and consultancy firms involved
The Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways has debarred the contractor allegedly responsible for the collapse of a significant portion of the elevated national highway-66 near the Kooriyad bridge in Malappuram district in Kerala on May 19 from participating in future Central government tenders. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Lok Sabha member from Malappuram, E.T. Muhammed Basheer, told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday (May 22, 2025) that the action transpired after he met with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at the latter's office in New Delhi on Wednesday and apprised him of the public safety risk posed by the arterial NH-66's 'structural flaws' in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasaragod and Thrissur districts. He said Mr Gadkari deputed an expert committee headed by retired IIT-Delhi professor G.V. Rao, which consisted of technical experts Jimmy Thomas and Anil Dixit, to conduct a preliminary inquiry. Based on their prefatory report, the Central government blacklisted the Andhra Pradesh-based construction company KNR Constructions. The Centre also barred the consultant firm, Highway Engineering Consultant (HEC), from participating in future construction tenders floated by the Union government. The Centre also brought two company officials under the ambit of its ongoing inquiry into the highway collapse. Mr Basheer stated that the Centre also withdrew the bank guarantees for the two firms. He said Mr Gadkari promised to conduct a safety audit of NH-66 passing through north Kerala and send teams to examine stretches under construction. He said the Centre would recover the cost of the upcoming rectification works from KNR Constructions and HEC. DPR questioned Meanwhile, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) resident engineer, Manoj Kumar, told reporters in Malappuram that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted to the NHAI appeared faulty. For one, the DPR had no provision for underpasses to ensure the connectivity of residents on either side of the walled-off elevated NH-66 at Kuriyadi. Suresh Gopi, MP, cast doubts on DPR's soundness in Thrissur. Speaking to reporters. Mr Gopi alleged that some vested interests had altered the DPR three times to suit their interests at the expense of the local environment. UDF charge Kerala's Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan said the United Democratic Front (UDF) had flagged the unscientific and environmentally destructive design of the NH-66 passing through paddies and wetlands. He said the designers failed to assess the environmental impact before finalising the project. 'They failed to conduct soil tests or study the natural water flow or seasonal precipitation', he added. However, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) ridiculed the UDF's concerns in the Assembly. At the same time, the government took credit for the completion of NH-66. Neither the Centre nor the Kerala government is owning up to responsibility for the structural precariousness of the NH stretches across Kerala', he added.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Gadkari has promised swift action against those responsible for NH-66 collapse near Kooriyad bridge: IUML leader
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP, E. T. Mohammed Basheerhas said that Union Minister for Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has formed a high-level committee of experts drawn from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to study the structural defects and allied public safety risk along the stretch of the under-construction National Highway-66 stretch in Malappuram district. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr. Basheer said he had called on Mr Gadkari to apprise him of the grave public concern following the collapse of a significant portion of the NH-66 near the Kooriyad Bridge. Mr Basheer said that Mr. Gadkari stated the Union government would bring the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials and the construction firm they contracted to construct the six-lane highway to book. Mr. Basheer said Mr. Gadkari had withdrawn the bank guarantee for the construction company, an Andhra Pradesh-based firm. 'Mr Gadkari said he would also disqualify the contractor from bidding on any future national highway-related construction works and blacklist the firm', he said. Mr Basheer said Mr Gadkari was seriously concerned that the completed part of the NH-66 had collapsed. He said the Minister had ordered an inquiry into the suspected oversight lapses and promised swift action against the errant officials, including NHAI officials, Central government engineers and their inspection teams. Mr. Basheer also informed Mr Gadkari of the appearance of cracks, possibly due to sinkage, on the elevated stretches of the NH-66 passing through Kozhikode and Kasaragod. The Minister promised a sweeping structural safety audit. He termed Mr Gadkari's approach to the problem 'constructive and proactive on-the-spot action.' Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary Binoy Viswam blamed the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHAI) for incorrectly laying the alignment of the NH-66 over paddy fields and wetlands, thereby choking streams, disrupting the natural flow of water, triggering waterlogging and flooding during the monsoon, and causing unquantifiable environmental damage. He stated that the NHAI had disregarded the concerns raised by the local population and environmentalists regarding the ecological impact of the 'ill-planned' NH construction. He demanded that the Central and State governments hold the contractor and NHAI authorities legally responsible for the shoddy construction work. Meanwhile, protests erupted in Chavakkad, Thrissur district, after a social media post showing cracks on the newly constructed National Highway stretch went viral. People blocked the road, accusing the NHAI of doing a cosmetic job to cover up the shoddy construction. Similar protests erupted at Thaliparambu in Kannur district after sodden mud from the NH construction site, unsettled by the heavy rains, deluged adjacent houses and hobbled pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Meanwhile, Youth Congress workers protested outside the construction company's office in Malappuram. They demanded that the NHAI examine the structural safety of an estimated 77 km of the NH-66, which the firm completed. The police later arrested and removed the protestors.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nitin Gadkari has promised action against those responsible for NH-66 collapse in Malappuram: IUML leader
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader E.T. Muhammad Basheer has said Union Minister for Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has formed a high-level committee of experts drawn from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to study the structural defects and allied public safety risk along the stretch of the under-construction National Highway-66 stretch in Malappuram district in Kerala. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr. Basheer said he had called on Mr. Gadkari to apprise him of the grave public concern following the collapse of a significant portion of the NH-66 near the Kooriyad bridge. Mr. Basheer said Mr. Gadkari stated that the Union government would bring the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials and the construction firm they contracted to construct the six-lane highway to book. Mr. Basheer said Mr. Gadkari had withdrawn the bank guarantee for the construction company, an Andhra Pradesh-based firm. 'Mr. Gadkari said he would also disqualify the contractor from bidding on any future national highway-related construction works and blacklist the firm', he said. Mr. Basheer said Mr. Gadkari was seriously concerned that the completed part of the NH-66 had collapsed. He said the Minister had ordered an inquiry into the suspected oversight lapses and promised swift action against the errant officials, including NHAI officials, Central government engineers and their inspection teams. Safety audit Mr. Basheer also informed Mr. Gadkari of the appearance of cracks, possibly due to sinkage, on the elevated stretches of the NH-66 passing through Kozhikode and Kasaragod. The Minister promised a sweeping structural safety audit. He termed Mr. Gadkari's approach to the problem 'constructive and proactive on-the-spot action.' Protests in Thrissur, Kannur Meanwhile, protests erupted at Chavakkad, Thrissur district, after a social media post showing cracks on the newly-constructed national highway stretch went viral. People blocked the road, accusing the NHAI of doing a cosmetic job to cover up the shoddy construction. Similar protests erupted at Thaliparambu in Kannur district after sodden mud from the NH construction site, unsettled by heavy rain, deluged adjacent houses and affected pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Youth Congress march Meanwhile, Youth Congress workers protested outside the construction company's office in Malappuram. They demanded that the NHAI examine the structural safety of an estimated 77 km of the NH-66, which the firm completed. The police later arrested and removed the protesters.
