NHAI Bans Contractor Over NH 66 Slope Collapse in Kerala

19 Jun 2025 CW Team

The emergency action also involved issuing a show-cause notice to MEIL, which now faces a potential monetary penalty of up to Rs 90 million. As part of its Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) contract, MEIL is required to maintain this highway section for 15 years and must reconstruct the failed slope protection at its own expense.

In response to the incident, NHAI has formed an expert panel including specialists from the Central Road Research Institute, IIT‑Palakkad, and the Geological Survey of India. This group will inspect the affected zone, assess the engineering and design quality, and recommend detailed remedial measures to prevent recurrence.

The collapse – which occurred near Cherkkala in Kasaragod district after heavy rain – highlights the risks of poor geotechnical planning and weak drainage systems. Earlier reports brought attention to unsafe practices, such as cutting steep slopes and merely applying thin cement coatings instead of constructing robust retaining structures.

Local authorities briefly halted construction in the area following the collapse. The worker safety risks were underscored in May 2025, when an 18‑year‑old contractor died after a hillock caved in during retaining‑wall construction – also part of the same NH‑66 widening project.

This disciplinary action marks a significant rebuke for MEIL, already facing scrutiny after other highway concessionaires faced debarment in Kerala. The NHAI’s move signals a strict stance on contractor accountability and infrastructure integrity in the rollout of major highway projects. The expert committee’s findings and subsequent remedial work are expected to set new standards for geotechnical safety in future expansions.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has debarred Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) for one year after a retaining wall collapsed on the Chengala–Neeleshwaram stretch of NH‑66 in Kerala on 16 June 2025. The collapse was traced to inadequate slope protection and insufficient drainage measures along the highway.The emergency action also involved issuing a show-cause notice to MEIL, which now faces a potential monetary penalty of up to Rs 90 million. As part of its Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) contract, MEIL is required to maintain this highway section for 15 years and must reconstruct the failed slope protection at its own expense.In response to the incident, NHAI has formed an expert panel including specialists from the Central Road Research Institute, IIT‑Palakkad, and the Geological Survey of India. This group will inspect the affected zone, assess the engineering and design quality, and recommend detailed remedial measures to prevent recurrence.The collapse – which occurred near Cherkkala in Kasaragod district after heavy rain – highlights the risks of poor geotechnical planning and weak drainage systems. Earlier reports brought attention to unsafe practices, such as cutting steep slopes and merely applying thin cement coatings instead of constructing robust retaining structures.Local authorities briefly halted construction in the area following the collapse. The worker safety risks were underscored in May 2025, when an 18‑year‑old contractor died after a hillock caved in during retaining‑wall construction – also part of the same NH‑66 widening project.This disciplinary action marks a significant rebuke for MEIL, already facing scrutiny after other highway concessionaires faced debarment in Kerala. The NHAI’s move signals a strict stance on contractor accountability and infrastructure integrity in the rollout of major highway projects. The expert committee’s findings and subsequent remedial work are expected to set new standards for geotechnical safety in future expansions.

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