Parliament Question: Crashes on National Highway

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 4247 ANSWERED ON- 01/04/2026 CRASHES ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY

4247. DR. V. SIVADASAN:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state:-

(a) whether Government is aware of the reasons of collapse of sections of the National Highways

(NHs), including the incident near Kottayam in Kollam district and similar incidents reported in other places in Kerala during the construction of the National Highway 66;

(b) whether Government or the National Highways Authority of India has conducted any technical or expert study into these incidents and the findings thereof;

(c) the action taken against contractors, consultants or agencies responsible; and

(d) whether Government proposes to review the design and construction practices for highway projects in flood-prone or marshy areas of Kerala? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (d) In Kerala, a few instances of failures during construction have been reported including Retaining Soil (RS) Wall failure at Kooriyad (19.05.2025), girder collapse at Aroor–Thuravoor (13.11.2025), and RS Wall failure at Mylakkadu (05.12.2025).

Expert Committees comprising Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Central Road Research Institute

(CRRI), Geological Survey of India (GSI) and IIT, Palakkad examined the incidents and submitted their reports on cause of accidents and remedial measures.

Safety audit by M/s RITES in Aroor–Thuravoor project indicated deficiencies in traffic management, work zone safety and construction practices.

Observations, inter alia, relate to soil conditions, bearing capacity, ground non-improvement and quality of fill material at RS wall locations. Geotechnical investigations have been carried out and design aspects examined, including structural alternatives at select locations.

Action against concerned contractors/consultants includes issuance of show cause notices, imposition of penalties, suspension/debarment and removal of personnel. Details are annexed.ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4247 ANSWERED ON 01/04/2026 ASKED BY DR. V. SIVADASAN REGARDING ‘CRASHES ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY’ Sr. Project Name a. Concessionaire/ Date of Details of Action Taken No. Promoter and incident incident b. Authority Engineer/ Independent Engineer 1 6-lane of Azhiyur- a. M/s.Adani Road 01.07.2024 Soil nailing A Show Cause Notice dated Vengalam Transport Ltd. & collapse at 31.07.2024 was issued to

13.07.2024 Km.191(LHS) and Concessionaire.

Km.193(RHS) Further, another Show Cause Notice dated 07.01.2026 was issued to Concessionaire for other defaults. In response to the Show Cause Notice, the Concessionaire submitted the reply dated 21.01.2026.

Personal hearing was given to Concessionaire on 10.02.2026.

Final order is to be passed.

2 6-lane of a. M/s.KCC Buildcon 03.03.2025 4 Concrete NHAI, imposed a penalty of Thuravoor- Ltd. girders of span Rs. 15.35 Lakhs for ensuring of Paravoor 17-18 of viaduct safe construction of works and fell down. a deterrent action in the interest of the Authority and public for ensuring the safe construction of the work. Two officials of Contractor and two officials of Authority Engineer have been terminated from the site.

3 6-lane of a. M/s.KNR 19.05.2025 Reinforced Soil Debarment notice issued Ramanattukara- Constructions (RS) Wall in to M/s. KNR construction Ltd.

Valanchery b. M/s.Highway approach of for debarment upto 1 year + Vehicular penalty of 5% of Current value Engineering Consultant Underpass (VUP) of failed work or 0.5% of from Km.276+80 Contract value of whole work to Km.277+05 on whichever is LHS of the Main more. Concessionaire & IE Carriageway have approached Delhi High collapsed. Court against such action.

Viaduct is being constructed with contractor's own expense of Rs 80 Cr.

4 6-lane of a. M/s.Megha 16.06.2025 Soil nailing NHAI suspended the Chengala- Engineering collapse incident Concessionaire and its Neeleshwaram occurred at promoter M/s. Megha Km.58+035 to Engineering & Infrastructure Km.58+100 (RHS) ltd. to participate in future bidding for 01-month period or till Concessionaire proposes remedial measures includingSr. Project Name a. Concessionaire/ Date of Details of Action Taken No. Promoter and incident incident b. Authority Engineer/ Independent Engineer rectification of designs of slope protection works with proper geophysical/ geotechnical, studies and demonstrate that such incidence will not repeat at other slope protection locations in the project reach whichever is later. Further, Settlement Agreement was executed on 19.02.2026 between NHAI and Concessionaire. As per para

3.1.2 (b) of SA-2, the Concessionaire shall be solely responsible for slope protection works and to construct and rectify the defective works at its own risk & cost. The Concessionaire/ Promoter self-restrained themselves from participating in the bids of Authority/ Implementing Agencies of MORTH till date.

Concessionaire agreed to pay 5% of current value of failed work as per Policy Circular dt.06.10.2021 of MoRTH &

16.11.2021 of NHAI.

Concessionaire also agreed to comply with the recommendations of Expert Group and complete rectification works at their own cost.

5 6-lane of a. M/s.Megha 23.07.2025 Unprotected soil Show Cause Notice issued to Neeleshwaram- Engineering slip occurred in Concessionaire on Thaliparamba the cut section 25.07.2025. Settlement from Km.96.030 Agreement executed on to Km.96.100 19.02.2026 between NHAI and

(LHS) at Concessionaire, as per para Veeramala 3.1.2 (b) of SA-2, Kunnu, Kasaragod Concessionaire shall be solely District. responsible for slope protection works to construct and remedy the defective works at its own risk & cost.

The Concessionaire/ Promoter self-restrained themselves from participating in the bids of Authority/ Implementing Agencies of MoRTH till date.Sr. Project Name a. Concessionaire/ Date of Details of Action Taken No. Promoter and incident incident b. Authority Engineer/ Independent Engineer Concessionaire agreed to pay 5% of current value of failed work as per Policy Circular dt.06.10.2021 of MoRTH &

16.11.2021 of NHAI.

Concessionaire also agreed to comply with the recommendations of Expert Group and complete rectification works at their own cost.

6 6-lane of Aroor to a. M/s.Ashoka 13.11.2025 2 girders of Span Key personnel of Contractor Thuravoor Buildcon Ltd. 202-203 fell down and AE have been removed b. M/s.TPF during their final from the project work and placement. debarred for 3 years. Expert ENGINEERING PVT.

Committee's final report not LTD. in Association yet received. with MAV Associates LLP.

7 6L of Start of a. M/s. Kollam 05.12.2025 Failure of RE Wall Concessionaire constructing Kollam Bypass to Highways Pvt. Ltd/ approach viaduct (120m) at his own Kadambattukonam Shivalaya Km.504+40 to cost.

Construction Co. 504+50 (LHS) b. M/s.Feedback The Concessionaire has been debarred for 01 month or till Infra Pvt. Ltd in JV submission of investigation with M/s.SATRA report. Key personnel of Services & solutions Concessionaire and IE have been removed from the project work.

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