Parliament Question: Safety Lapses during Construction of NH-66 in Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 190 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 SAFETY LAPSES DURING CONSTRUCTION OF NH-66 IN KERALA *190. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) the details of all accidents, mishaps and fatal incidents reported during the ongoing construction and widening works of National Highway-66 up to 15.01.2026 in Kerala, district-wise; (b) the number of deaths and serious injuries reported in the said accidents, separately indicating passengers/road users and construction workers; (c) the names of construction companies, concessionaires and subcontractors involved in the respective stretches where such accidents occurred; (d) the findings of safety audits or inquiries conducted into these incidents and the lapses identified therein; (e) the action taken against the agencies concerned including penalties imposed, termination of contracts or blacklisting; and (f) the steps taken to strengthen safety measures, traffic management and worker protection during construction of NH-66 to prevent recurrence of such incidents? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 190 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH REGARDING SAFETY LAPSES DURING CONSTRUCTION OF NH-66 IN KERALA. (a) to (f) The summary of accidents, mishaps and fatal incidents reported at construction sites of ongoing projects on NH-66 is annexed. Lapses mainly related to non-adherence to overall Traffic Management, Work Zone Safety, and Construction Safety Measures, non-compliances in the areas of traffic management, barricading, signage, diversion implementation, road surface condition, protection for vulnerable road users, worker safety practices, and night-time visibility, has been found in Road Safety Audit.ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 190 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH REGARDING ‘SAFETY LAPSES DURING CONSTRUCTION OF NH-66 IN KERALA ’. The details of all accidents, mishaps and fatal incidents reported during the ongoing construction and widening works of NH-66 passe ngers/ Status of Details of Constr road action taken Concessionai Accidents/ uction users against S. Date of Project Name re/ Sub District Mishaps during the Worker fatalit concessionaire/ no incident contractor NH 66 widening Fatality ies contractor Works Details due to along with constr penalty if any uction During a temporary The immediate work stoppage due expenses and to heavy rain at compensation Flyover P23–P24, amounting to the Employee went Rs. 20 Lakhs to the staging area has been paid without instruction through 6L of or supervision and Concessionaire 1 Thalappady- M/s ULCCS Kasaragod 23.07.2023 1 0 slipped while 's Insurance Chengala alighting from the plan in stage. He accordance sustained serious with Workmens injuries and later Compensation succumbed during Policy. treatment at MIMS Hospital, KannurTwo workers were The immediate deployed for ATMS expenses and installation works. compensation At the time of amounting to accident, these Rs. 20 Lakhs two employees has been paid were standing on through the roadside near Concessionaire to the pickup van. 's Insurance A truck moving plan in towards 15.07.2025 2 0 accordance Mangalapuram with Workmens direction suddenly Compensation collided with the Policy. parked pickup van due to the overspeed and loss of control and hit these 2 workers who died on the spot. Fatal accident The occurred at the compensation ramp when a amounting to worker fell from a Rs.16,01,000/- height of about 6 has been paid 6L of metres during through Chengala- M/s Megha 2 shuttering work 20.09.2025 1 0 Concessionaire Neeleshwara Engineering due to failure to 's Insurance m anchor the safety plan in harness. accordance with Workmens Compensation Policy.The compensation amounting to Rs.16,38,525/- A Construction has been paid worker died due to through a fatal accident 29.06.2022 1 0 Concessionaire while unloading 's Insurance steel at the site. plan in accordance with Workmens 6L of Compensation Neeleshwara M/s Megha Policy. 3 m- Engineering The Thalipparamb compensation a amounting to A fatal accident Rs.13,93,600/- occurred at Km has been paid 98+750 (LHS) due through to soil collapse 12.05.2025 1 0 Concessionaire near the work 's Insurance area, resulting in plan in the death of one accordance labourer. with Workmens Compensation Policy. The A fatal accident compensation 6L of occurred when a amounting to Thalipparamb M/s Vishwa workman came Rs.20,97,850/- a- Kannur 21.08.2023 1 0 Samudra into close contact has been paid Muzhapilanga with earth moving through du equipment at site. Concessionaire 's Insuranceplan in accordance with Workmens Compensation Policy. An accident occurred at Ch. 164+540 (MCW RHS) during streetlight erection The work when an compensation 25.03.2025 1 0 uncontrolled amounting to Eicher truck Rs. 34,42,036 entered the (16,42,260+17, barricaded work 99,776) has area and fatally been paid 4 struck a worker. through An accident Concessionaire occurred at Ch. 's Insurance 157+110 (LHS) plan in during raft accordance finishing work with Workmens when a portion of 24.05.2025 1 0 Compensation the cut soil wall Policy. collapsed, resulting in the death of one worker. The Roller operator Compensation who went for through the 6L of Azhiyur- restoring/maintena 5 M/s Adani Kozhikode 08.03.2024 1 0 Insurance Vengalam nce of the road to Company is in borrow area process. (duringtransportation of soil from the borrow area soil spillage happened) while he was moving on down gradient lost his control and stuck between the rollers and that lead to death of operator. A fatal accident occurred when a Compensation M/s worker fell from 6L of through the Shivalaya VUP pillar from a 6 Kappirikkad- 19.12.2013 1 0 Insurance Construction height of approx. 5 Thalikkulam Company is in s metres while process. coming down after shuttering work. A worker died in an Compensation Thrissur fatal accident through the during the cleaning 23.12.2023 1 0 Insurance of WMM plant Company is in M/s 6L of conveyor belt. process. Shivalaya 7 Thalikkulam- A worker died due Construction Compensation Kodungallur to a fatal accident s through the at Camp Site Yard 06.04.2024 1 0 Insurance 377+240 while Company is in unloading steel at process. the site.The compensation amounting to ₹16,38,525/- has been paid Hydra crane hit on through labour while 28.12.2023 1 0 Concessionaire clearing way for 's Insurance ambulance. plan in accordance with Workmens Compensation Policy. Shuttering sheet The fall on worker 23.03.2024 1 0 compensation 6-lane while deshuttering. amounting to Elevated M/s Ashoka ₹15,84,400/- 8 Highway Alappuzha Buildcon and Aroor- ₹14,92,950/- Thuravoor has been paid Construction through worker fell down Concessionaire 16.04.2024 1 0 from deck slab 's Insurance during form work. plan in accordance with Workmens Compensation Policy. Electrical accident 2 nos. of during water tank Compensation 20.10.2025 1 0 filling at Base Policy, fatality camp. insurance PSC Girder fell compensation 13.11.2025 0 1 down on the currently intraveller. progress. The incident occurred during line work at Sakthikulagara. According to the Electrical sub- contractor, the Workmens worker climbed the Compensation electric pole after Policy Order receiving issued for an 22.07.2024 1 0 shutdown amount of confirmation from Rs16,49,625 the KSEB and payment is supervisor. in progress 6L of Unfortunately, the Kottukulangar worker suffered an M/s Viswa 9 a-Start of Kollam electric shock Samudra Kollam while working on Bypass the line and died on the spot. This accident Workmens occurred during Compensation the usual patrolling Policy (WCP) by the security Order issued staff. Accidentally, for an amount a mild steel of Rs channel slipped 21.07.2025 1 0 12,23,025/- and from the top of the payment in girder and fell onto progress in 1 the head of Shri case. In other Vinod Singh, case, WCP causing him to Order awaited loseconsciousness. The co-staff immediately took him to the hospital; however, he died on the way. The incident occurred during working hours when the worker was moving along the diversion road. 25.10.2025 1 0 A truck accidentally struck him, resulting in his death on the spot. During night-time soil dumping and grading operations. The Mr. Md. Jobrayl, compensation working as a amounting to Helper for the past Rs.10,00,000/- 6L of Start of five months, had has been paid M/s Kollam been deployed to through Shivalaya 10 Bypass- Kollam guide soil 11.11.2025 1 0 Concessionaire Construction Kadambattuk unloading. It 's Insurance s onam appears that while plan in awaiting the next accordance vehicle, during the with Workmens dumping by the Compensation dumper he was Policy. trapped under the dumped soil load,which resulted in his unfortunate death. Two numbers of workers from Shivalaya Construction Co. Pvt. Ltd. were engaged on the reinforce earth wall repair work on the service road. The Hyundai I 10 car, moving at high Compensation speed from the through the opposite direction 03.02.2025 1 0 Insurance while overtaking, Company is in struck one of the process. workers. As the result, the worker sustained severe head and leg injury and was immediately transported to a medical facility for treatment. Lateron, he passed away. Total 22 1 *****