Centre Blacklists Firms Over NH-66 Collapse in Kerala, Orders Inquiry and Safety Audit

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has barred KNR Constructions and Highway Engineering Consultant (HEC), the firms involved in the construction and consultancy of the collapsed NH-66 flyover segment in Kerala’s Malappuram district, from participating in any future tenders for the next two years. The decision, effective from May 19, was taken following a preliminary inquiry into the incident that raised serious concerns about the quality and safety of the work carried out.

This development follows an urgent appeal made by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Member of Parliament E.T. Muhammad Basheer. He met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on May 21 and highlighted the risks posed by what he described as structural deficiencies in several stretches of NH-66 running through Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, and Thrissur districts.

Responding to the concerns, Mr. Gadkari promptly constituted a three-member expert committee headed by retired IIT-Delhi professor G.V. Rao. The other members of the panel included experienced engineers Jimmy Thomas and Anil Dixit. The committee conducted a swift assessment of the collapsed segment and submitted a preliminary report pointing to lapses that warranted disciplinary action against the responsible parties. Following the report, the Centre withdrew bank guarantees submitted by KNR Constructions and HEC and ordered that both companies be blacklisted for two years.

According to Mr. Basheer, the Union Minister has also assured a comprehensive safety audit of the entire 77-km stretch of NH-66 that was constructed by the two firms. The audit aims to examine the structural soundness of not just the collapsed segment but also other areas where similar issues may have gone unnoticed. The government has also included the firms’ supervisory officials in its inquiry to determine if negligence or procedural lapses played a role in the incident. Meanwhile, both firms have reportedly suspended several officials from service pending the outcome of the investigation.

In Malappuram, NHAI’s resident engineer Manoj Kumar indicated that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) used for the highway construction might have had critical flaws. His statements were echoed by MP Suresh Gopi in Thrissur, who raised doubts over the integrity of the DPR and suggested that elements of it may have been altered for questionable reasons.

The issue has since sparked political tension within the state. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas of remaining silent on the construction irregularities, despite earlier presenting the NH-66 expansion as a milestone project of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.

Chief Minister Vijayan responded by stating that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and not the state government, was responsible for the expansion works. Minister Riyas added that the central government had committed to addressing the structural deficiencies without delay and alleged that opposition parties were misrepresenting the issue to attack the state government unfairly. Meanwhile, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the central authorities would take necessary steps to ensure public safety and restore confidence in the infrastructure.

The NH-66 project, which was expected to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity in Kerala, is now under intense scrutiny. The collapse has not only raised questions about the quality of construction and the oversight mechanisms in place but also highlighted the need for stringent safety audits and greater accountability among both public and private stakeholders involved in infrastructure development.