Use of loamy soil among reasons for collapse of NH 66 stretches, NHAI tells Kerala High Court

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has submitted before the Kerala High Court that poor and saturated loamy soil that was used in construction was among the primary reasons for the recent collapse of the newly-built NH 66 corridors in Kerala.

The authority’s counsel further said that such collapses occurred due to negligence of the ‘concessionaire’ who failed to ascertain ground conditions and to increase the ground-bearing capacity before beginning construction of the carriageway.

The court asked the NHAI counsel whether despite being experts in national highway construction, the agency was not aware that the use of such soil could result in such highway collapse incidents. The NHAI ought to have known the hassles that motorists and others have been put to because of such multiple NH collapses. The agency must also remain aware of public sentiments and must not take people’s patience for granted, the court said.

The NHAI had admitted before the High Court that there were lapses on the part of the agency in constructing the embankment of the highway that collapsed at Kooriyad in Malappuram district and on some other NH 66 stretches. Following this, the court had directed the NHAI to file a report by May 29, specifically mentioning the cause(s) for the collapse of the NH 66 stretches, and the rectification measures that the agency proposed to carry out.