National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) set up a three-member expert committee to probe the collapse of a section of under-construction NH-66 in Malappuram. Cracks also appeared on the NH stretch and service road subsidence was reported from Thalappara in Malappuram and Malaparamba in Kozhikode. Around 4am on Tuesday, a portion of the service road between Chengala and Nileshwar caved in near Kalyan Road at Kanhangad, stopping vehicle movement.
The expert panel of geotechnical specialists will inspect the site and suggest fixes. NHAI project director Anshul Sharma, who visited the collapse site, said the initial assessment showed that pressure from excess water made the paddy field bulge, which created a hollow space. The soil later sank into that space. NHAI officials said that the embankment collapse was due to pressure from rainwater that seeped into the soil and that there was no engineering failure. ‘We will take preventive measures based on the suggestions made by the independent committee,’ said Sharma.
Collector Vinod Kumar said the road was built by depositing a large amount of earth in the paddy field, causing it to bulge later. He added that the expert committee would visit the site on Wednesday and submit its report the same day. ‘The decision on precautions and how to finish the construction will be made after reviewing the report,’ he said.
IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty said that local representatives and residents had warned that the elevated stretch through the paddy field wouldn’t last and could lead to disaster. ‘The construction seems unscientific. NHAI said the issue can be discussed again after the expert committee examines the site,’ he said.
The NH stretch at Thalappara, where cracks appeared on Tuesday, is just 4km from Kooriyad. After the cracks appeared, traffic was diverted to the service road. Like Kooriyad, Thalappara is an elevated stretch, where a portion collapsed on Monday. The NH service road at Malaparamba also subsided on Tuesday and the bitumen surface was removed using JCBs.
Meanwhile, HC directed NHAI to submit a detailed report on Monday’s road collapse. The bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran issued the order on Tuesday while hearing petitions about the poor condition of roads in the state. During hearing, NHAI’s lawyer asked for a week to file a preliminary report. HC allowed the request and adjourned the matter to next week. A motorist first noticed the collapse in Kanhangad and alerted others. A major crack also surfaced on the six-lane NH opposite Christ CMI school near Kalyan Road. Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd is carrying out the six-laning of Chengala-Nileshwar NH-66 reach.
Collector K Inbasekar visited the spot and reviewed the situation. He said the crack was 53m long. He told reporters that initial inspection suggested the crack developed as the soil was not consolidated properly. He said NHAI would initiate an inquiry into the incidents.
Meanwhile, district administration decided to prepare a contingency plan to prevent accidents during NH-66 construction. An expert team led by deputy collector (land acquisition) has been assigned to study various spots on the highway. The team would submit a report soon, he added.
