A section of National Highway 66 caved in near Kooriyad in Kerala’s Malappuram district 
Kerala

Kerala: Newly built National Highway collapses, raises alarm over construction quality

The incident has triggered a wave of concern across the state over the structural integrity of the 644-km six-lane highway — much of which runs through water-logged, fragile terrain

Written by : R Rakendu
Edited by : Korah Abraham

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Days after a section of the under-construction National Highway 66 caved in near Kooriyad in Kerala’s Malappuram district, local officials, engineers and residents are pointing to deeper problems with the project’s execution. Though no lives were lost in the collapse on Monday, May 19, the incident has triggered a wave of concern across the state over the structural integrity of the 644-km six-lane highway — much of which runs through water-logged, fragile terrain. A day later, in Kasaragod, part of a service road sank and cracks became visible on the carriageway.

Built over a reclaimed paddy field, the collapsed stretch in Kooriyad damaged a service road and retaining wall, and left four vehicles trapped in the debris. While six people sustained minor injuries, similar cracks and road damage have since been reported in parts of Kozhikode and Thrissur as well, raising serious questions about the quality of construction and the suitability of the chosen route.

The collapsed section is part of the Kozhikode–Thrissur stretch of NH-66 and lies just 600 metres from the Panampuzha bridge in Malappuram. KP Muhammed Kutty, Chairman of Tirurangadi Municipality in Malappuram, said the stretch had been built over a paddy field that remains waterlogged during monsoons. “This is not even the rainy season, and the road has already given way,” he said. “They should’ve built a flyover over this terrain. The proximity to Panampuzha and Kadalundipuzha rivers makes this a high-risk zone.”

Muhammed Kutty said an expert committee had visited the site and an official report is awaited.

The collapse has also triggered public outrage in other parts of the state. In Thrissur’s Chavakkad residents blocked roads after images of fresh cracks on a newly built highway stretch went viral. In Kannur’s Taliparamba heavy rain caused slush from construction sites to flow into homes, prompting further protests.

A day after the Kooriyad collapse, a service road sank In Kasaragod. Edarikode Panchayat President Jaleel said visible cracks have appeared along the Mammalipadi stretch of NH-66, much of which also cuts through low-lying paddy fields. “There is a flyover covering some distance, but large sections are still built on weak terrain,” he said.

 Usman, Chairman of Parappanangadi Municipality in Kozhikode, blamed the incident on “unscientific and rushed” construction. “What they call foreign technology is no match for the realities of Kerala’s soil. There are no proper concrete barriers — just layers of bricks stacked on top of each other,” he said, adding that even local PWD engineers had voiced concerns.

NHAI blames rainfall, denies wrongdoing

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has meanwhile dismissed allegations of substandard work. Project Director Anshul Sharma told the media that recent rainfall may have triggered soil expansion beneath the reclaimed paddy field, increasing pressure and leading to the collapse.

“The rain softened the earth below, causing cracks that eventually led to the road sliding. We have formed an independent three-member expert committee which will inspect the site and submit a detailed report,” Sharma said. He denied claims of poor engineering or negligence.

Malappuram Lok Sabha MP ET Mohammed Bashir informed that the Union Government has debarred KNR construction company, which undertook the contract. 

According to IANS, two top officials attached to the project, the Construction Project Manager M. Amarnath Reddy and team leader Raj Kumar, have also been suspended.

Following the collapse, traffic between Kozhikode and Thrissur via the Kolappuram–Kakkad stretch has been severely affected. Vehicles, including private buses, autorickshaws and bikes, are being diverted through narrow service roads, causing bottlenecks and delays. The local traffic regulatory committee has urged the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) to restrict large vehicles from entering the affected zone.

Although formal restrictions on two-wheelers, tractors, autos and pedestrians will be enforced only after the highway is officially opened, signage with new rules has already been installed. The MVD also plans to deploy CCTV cameras to monitor violations and issue fines.