**Executive Summary**
Following the failure of a Reinforced Soil (RS) Wall on NH-66 in Kerala on December 5, 2025, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking immediate action to address the incident and prevent future occurrences. This includes expert assessments, intensive soil testing, design reviews, and expanded safety audits. The goal is to ensure the long-term integrity of the National Highway 66 corridor.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **RS Wall Failure Incident:**
* A 9.4-meter high RS Wall failed at Mylakkadu in Kollam District on December 5, 2025, due to a Deep-Seated Shear/Bearing Capacity Failure.
* **Accountability Measures:**
* The Concessionaire (M/s Shivalaya) and Independent Engineer (M/s Feedback - Satra JV) are temporarily suspended from bidding for future projects.
* Show Cause Notices for potential debarment (up to 3 years for Concessionaire, up to 2 years for IE) and monetary penalties have been issued.
* The Project Manager of the Concessionaire and the Resident Engineer of the IE have been removed from the project site.
* **Multi-Pronged Initiatives:**
* **Expert Assessment:** A high-level Expert Committee visited the site on December 6, 2025, to investigate the causes and suggest remedial actions.
* **Intensive Soil Testing:** 18 Geotechnical Agencies are conducting soil sampling and testing at 378 RS Wall locations across 18 projects on NH-66 in Kerala. Soil tests aim to be completed for 100 locations within one month.
* **Design Review and Remedial Action:** Design and construction of every RS Wall will be re-checked, with remedial actions taken as necessary. RS Walls will only be accepted after quality confirmation.
* **Safety Audits Expanded:** Safety audits will be expanded to cover other projects on NH-66.
**Impact Analysis**
**NHAI**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and overseeing the initiatives to address the RS Wall failures and ensure the long-term integrity of NH-66.
* **Action Required:** Implement the expert assessments, soil testing, design reviews, and safety audits.
**Concessionaire (M/s Shivalaya) and Independent Engineer (M/s Feedback - Satra JV)**
* **Impact:** Temporary suspension from bidding for future projects, potential debarment, monetary penalties, and removal of personnel from the project site.
* **Action Required:** Respond to Show Cause Notices, address the issues identified in the audits and reviews, and cooperate with NHAI on remedial actions.
**Geotechnical Agencies**
* **Impact:** Responsible for conducting intensive soil testing at RS Wall locations.
* **Action Required:** Deploy multiple rigs to start soil testing within 7-10 days and aim to complete tests at 100 locations within one month and the remaining within three months.
**RITES**
* **Impact:** Expanding the scope of their safety audits to cover all NH-66 projects.
* **Action Required:** Identify and rectify any potential safety concerns on all NH-66 projects.
**Public**
* **Impact:** Aim to ensure the long-term integrity of the National Highway 66 corridor and ensure safety standards are maintained.
* **Action Required:** None mentioned.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The primary regulator taking action after Reinforced Soil Wall failures.
NH-66: The National Highway on which Reinforced Soil Wall failures occurred, prompting the NHAI's response.
Kerala: The state where the NH-66 project failures are occurring.
Expert Committee: A high-level committee formed to investigate the causes of failure & suggest remedial actions following the Mylakkadu incident.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
NHAI takes Firm Action following Reinforced Soil
Wall Failures in Projects on NH-66 in Kerala
प्रव तथ: 10 DEC 2025 10:08PM by PIB Delhi
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking immediate and decisive action following the
recent failure of a Reinforced Soil Wall at Mylakkadu in Kollam District on December 5, 2025. The
Mylakkadu failure, which occurred on Kollam – Kadambattukonam Project, involved a 9.4-metre high RS
Wall approach to a Vehicular Underpass. Preliminary assessments suggest the cause is a Deep-Seated
Shear/ Bearing Capacity Failure, meaning the soil at foundation was too weak to support the fill.
NHAI has acted swiftly and severely to ensure accountability. The Concessionaire and its Promoters (M/s
Shivalaya) and the Independent Engineer (M/s Feedback - Satra JV) have been temporarily suspended
from bidding for future projects. They have also been issued Show Cause Notices for potential debarment
(upto 3 years for Concessionaire and upto 2 years for IE) along with monetary penalties. The Project
Manager of the Concessionaire and the Resident Engineer of IE have been immediately removed from the
project site.
While the technology of RS Walls is sound, the failures raise serious concerns about the bearing capacity
and quality of the soil used in the design and construction of these structures/ RS Walls along NH-66. To
address this, NHAI is launching a massive, multi-pronged initiatives:
1. Expert Assessment:
Following the Mylakkadu incident, a high-level Expert Committee, including Dr. Jimmy Thomas (IIT-
Kanpur) and Dr. T.K. Sudheesh (IIT-Palakkad), visited the site on December 6, 2025, to investigate the
causes of failure & suggest remedial actions. The findings of a previous Expert Committee, constituted
after the Kooriyad incident, are already being acted upon.
2. Intensive Soil Testing Across NH-66:
NHAI has appointed 18 Geotechnical Agencies to conduct rigorous soil sampling and testing at 378
structure/ RS Walls locations across 18 projects on NH-66 in Kerala. This includes sites that are already
constructed, in progress, and yet to start. Agencies will deploy multiple rigs within 7–10 days to start the
work, aiming to complete tests at 100 locations within one month and the remaining within three months.
3. Design Review and Remedial Action:
Based on these comprehensive field and lab reports, the design and construction of every RS Wall will be
re-checked. Remedial actions, including the dismantling and reconstruction of walls, will be taken where
necessary. RS Walls will only be accepted after this process is complete and quality is confirmed.
Accountability will be fixed for all lapses found during this review.
4. Safety Audits Expanded:Following a separate incident involving the falling of girders on the Aroor-Thuravoor Elevated Road
Project in November, NHAI has already engaged RITES to conduct a safety audit on that project. These
safety audits will now be expanded to cover other projects on NH-66 to proactively identify and rectify
any potential safety concerns.
NHAI reiterates its commitment to the highest standards of quality and safety for the public and assures
that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the long-term integrity of the National Highway 66
corridor.
***
GDH/DS
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