KOZHIKODE: Raising concerns about the safety of motorists, cracks have appeared on two sections of the under-construction NH 66 in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts while a service road caved in at Kasaragod. The damage happened a day after a portion of the retaining wall of the national highway collapsed at Kooriyad in Malappuram on Monday, causing damage to three cars parked on the service road.
Following heavy rain on Tuesday, cracks were visible — extending upto around 100 metres — on the NH at Thalappara in Malappuram. The damage prompted authorities to divert vehicles through service road. Cracks have also developed on the NH 66 at Malaparamba in Kozhikode, where the widening process is in the final stage. The service road also suffered damage there.
At Chemmattamvayal near Mavungal in Kasaragod, a service road along the NH caved in around 4 am due to heavy rain, severely impacting flow of vehicles in the area.
Maintaining that the NH development work is progressing well across various parts of the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said: “However, some recent incidents related to the construction are unfortunate and a cause for concern. In light of these incidents, we will convene a meeting with officials of the National Highways Authority at the earliest,” he told reporters in Kozhikode on Tuesday.
He said it is crucial to ensure that the construction aligns with the geological characteristics of the state.
“During the meeting, we will thoroughly examine whether there are any issues or structural flaws in the ongoing work and take necessary steps to address them,” he said.
In the wake of the road collapse incident at Kooriyad, an urgent meeting was held under the chairmanship of Malappuram Collector V R Vinod in which MLAs, officials, and NHAI representatives participated. The collector said the incident was a cause for concern.
MLA Kunhalikutty demands state govt and Centre’s intervention
National Highways Authority of India Project Director Anshul Sharma said the cause of the accident was the pressure on the foundation due to heavy rain in the past few days. “This caused the paddy field, where the road was constructed, to expand, crack, and slide, which caused the accident. The NHAI has appointed a three-member independent committee to visit the area on Wednesday to inspect the incident and submit a report,” he said. NHAI officials also refuted allegations of unscientific construction of the highway.
Vengara MLA P K Kunhalikutty demanded that the central and state governments seriously intervene in the incident. Kunhalikutty alleged that the unscientific nature of the construction had been mentioned earlier and that the suggestion that a bridge was the best option here had not been heeded. He said there was a possibility of major accidents in the future.
In Kasaragod, apart from the damage caused to the service road at Chemmattamvayal, a crack has developed on the NH currently under construction on the Kasaragod-Kannur route. District Collector Inbasekar K said emergency measures are being taken as part of preparations for the monsoon season in connection with the NH construction. Written instructions have already been given to the NHAI and construction companies to take steps to prevent muslips by ensuring side wall protection in Mattalayi Kunnu, Veeramala Hill, and Cherkala.