KOCHI: KNR Constructions (KNRC) said the company has made no “mistake” in the construction of NH 66 and attributed the collapse of the highway stretch at Kooriyad in Malappuram to unexpected subsoil conditions.
According to KNRC, the company responsible for the Ramanattukara-Valanchery section of NH 66, the approach ramp with a reinforced earth (RE) wall yielded due to “pockets of soft or slushy soil between the earth’s layers” beneath the foundation. The Hyderabad-based listed company, in its latest earnings call, stated that the construction process followed proper protocols.
“We are very confident that we have not done any mistake... It’s a completely waterlogged area... Proper approvals were taken, and thorough examination of the foundations were done during earthing, along with subsoil investigations,” K Jalandhar Reddy, promoter and executive director of KNRC, said in the call.
Responding to analysts’ questions, Reddy explained that the designs were made accordingly, and Strata Geosystems, a renowned RE Walls agency, had done the work. “The design was verified and approved by the authorities concerned before execution. So, as such, we didn’t see anything that would have indicated this issue. We treat this as an accident only,” he said.
He said the company has put forth a proposal to NHAI to construct a viaduct in the damaged area —estimated to cost Rs 25-Rs 30 crore — to permanently resolve the issue. Reddy said this solution would prevent similar problems in the future given the road’s 15-year maintenance requirement.
Proposal to construct viaduct
The 39.7-km NH stretch between Ramanattukara and Valanchery is being developed as a six-lane highway through the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) at an estimated cost of Rs 2,150 crore by a fully-owned subsidiary of KNRC – KNR Ramanattukara Infra Pvt Ltd. Meanwhile, KNRC in a separate presentation stated that the project has achieved 95% physical progress.
The concession period spans 17 years, with the company responsible for maintaining the stretch for 15 years. Under the HAM, the government provides a predetermined payment to the private developer (concessionaire) in the form of an annuity over the concession period, typically ranging from 15 to 20 years.
Regarding payment for the viaduct construction, Reddy said since the original contract specified an RE wall, while the new proposal involves a viaduct, it constitutes a change in scope. “I may not claim payment for what I have already done, but the new work will be treated as a separate proposal under change of scope,” he explained.
Reddy said KNRC will negotiate with NHAI over payment, and if necessary, may opt for arbitration if an agreement isn’t reached. “Our primary goal is to solve the problem and alleviate the public’s inconvenience,” he emphasised.
