K?taka Revenue Minister Cites "Unscientific" NHAI Work for NH 66 Landslide

19 Jul 2024 CW Team

He recalled his visit to the area the previous year during heavy rainfall, noting that the construction of national highways was not carried out with scientific precision. Additionally, he criticised the Seabird Naval base?s canals as being poorly organised. He had previously warned about the risk of landslides, but these warnings were ignored by NHAI. This was stated by him in response to queries in the assembly regarding the incident.

Byre Gowda also indicated that NHAI officials often responded by citing their central office in Delhi and promising to send a letter. However, he assured that the government is taking the incident seriously and that discussions with officials would be scheduled. He also mentioned that a letter would be sent through the chief secretary and that all necessary measures would be implemented to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Speaker U T Khader proposed filing cases against central agencies, but Byre Gowda noted that the state was not inclined to engage in a conflict.

Byre Gowda described the location of the national highway as being situated between a river and a hill, where some unauthorized small canteens had been established along the roadside. The landslide occurred when tanker drivers transporting cooking gas (LPG) had stopped their vehicles for tea. The landslide engulfed the tankers and canteens, with reports suggesting that seven people, including the tanker drivers, might have lost their lives.

The rescue operation is currently in progress, with teams from the fire brigade and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at the scene.

Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, asserted that the landslide at Shrirur was caused by ?unscientific? projects carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Seabird Naval base. He mentioned that the chief of NHAI would be summoned to address the deficiencies in the projects. He recalled his visit to the area the previous year during heavy rainfall, noting that the construction of national highways was not carried out with scientific precision. Additionally, he criticised the Seabird Naval base?s canals as being poorly organised. He had previously warned about the risk of landslides, but these warnings were ignored by NHAI. This was stated by him in response to queries in the assembly regarding the incident. Byre Gowda also indicated that NHAI officials often responded by citing their central office in Delhi and promising to send a letter. However, he assured that the government is taking the incident seriously and that discussions with officials would be scheduled. He also mentioned that a letter would be sent through the chief secretary and that all necessary measures would be implemented to avoid similar incidents in the future. Speaker U T Khader proposed filing cases against central agencies, but Byre Gowda noted that the state was not inclined to engage in a conflict. Byre Gowda described the location of the national highway as being situated between a river and a hill, where some unauthorized small canteens had been established along the roadside. The landslide occurred when tanker drivers transporting cooking gas (LPG) had stopped their vehicles for tea. The landslide engulfed the tankers and canteens, with reports suggesting that seven people, including the tanker drivers, might have lost their lives. The rescue operation is currently in progress, with teams from the fire brigade and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) at the scene.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..