NH-66 Soil Found Weak: Expert Panel Recommends Ground Strengthening After Multiple Damages in Kerala
Following four separate instances of damage to National Highway 66 (NH-66) in Kerala between 2024 and 2025, an Expert Committee formed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has concluded that the soil at multiple construction sites has poor bearing capacity. The panel has recommended additional ground improvement measures to strengthen the foundation.
Panel Assessment and Recommendations
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) informed Parliament on Thursday that NHAI had formed the expert panel in May 2025 to identify vulnerabilities in Reinforced Soil (RS) Walls and slope protection works across 17 NH-66 projects in Kerala.
According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the panel conducted inspections between June 11 and July 14, focusing on the adequacy of embankment and slope protection. The team included engineers, contractors, concessionaires, and designers. After site reviews and discussions, the committee found that several locations along NH-66 had soil with inadequate bearing strength, necessitating ground reinforcement.
Kerala: Four Damage Incidents in Two Years
- 2024 – Chengala–Neeleshwaram Stretch
- Issue: Collapse of slope protection due to failed soil nailing.
- Action Taken:
- Concessionaire suspended from bidding until rectification.
- Debarment of the firm.
- Senior Bridge Engineer removed.
- 2024 – Azhiyur–Vengalam Stretch
- Issue: Collapse due to slope failure.
- Action Taken:
- Show-cause notice issued for 1-year debarment.
- Penalty of ₹50 lakh to ₹5 crore.
- Rectification at concessionaire’s cost.
- ₹20 lakh penalty on Independent Engineer.
- 2025 – Neeleshwaram–Thaliparambha Stretch
- Issue: Soil slipped from cut section, blocking the road.
- Action Taken: Rectification done; traffic restored with barricades.
- 2025 – Valanchery–Kappirikkad Bypass
- Issue: Reinforced Earth Wall collapse.
- Action Taken: Contractor debarred pending investigation.
National Policy on Soil and Slope Testing
The Ministry reminded that IRC guidelines and concession agreements mandate:
- Contractors must test soil and slopes at the planning stage.
- Project Directors and Authority Engineers must conduct random sample verification.
Nationwide: 22 Major Highway Damages Since 2022
The Ministry revealed that 18 additional highways across India have experienced major structural damages due to rains since 2022. These include:
- 2025:
- Gujarat (Sanchore–Santalpur Road): ₹2.8 crore penalty; debarment recommendation.
- Nagaland (Kohima–Mao): Damage reported; restoration underway.
- Punjab–Gujarat (Amritsar–Jamnagar Corridor): Surface defects; ₹50 lakh penalty; 2 officials terminated.
- 2024:
- Karnataka: NH-66, NH-169, NH-75 damaged in landslides.
- Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (Rajasthan): Rutting, potholes, RE Wall issues.
- 2023:
- Mizoram (NH-6): Potholes and ditches; contractor’s performance guarantee forfeited.
- 2022:
- Himachal Pradesh (Parwanoo–Solan NH-05): Damage rectified by EPC contractor.
Quality Oversight and Grievance Systems
Minister Nitin Gadkari assured Parliament that highways are constructed in accordance with Indian Roads Congress standards. To maintain quality:
- Authority/Independent Engineers are deployed for day-to-day oversight.
- Deficiencies are promptly flagged for corrective action under technical clauses.
- Citizens can report issues via the Rajmarg Yatra mobile app and grievance portal.
- Social media complaints are actively monitored for timely resolution.
Stronger Monitoring and Accountability
With structural failures on the rise, the Ministry is pushing for:
- Tighter engineering supervision
- Stricter enforcement of technical norms
- Increased accountability from contractors, engineers, and concessionaires
This comes amid growing concerns about the safety, quality, and resilience of India’s expanding national highway infrastructure network.
