NHAI Debars Contractor Over Kerala Highway Collapse
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

NHAI Debars Contractor Over Kerala Highway Collapse

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has debarred Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) for one year following a landslip and wall collapse along the Chengala–Neeleshwaram stretch of NH‑66 in Kerala. The incident on 16 June was attributed to inadequate slope protection and poor drainage, exposing dangerous design faults on the roadway.

In addition to debarment, MEIL has received a show-cause notice and may face a penalty of up to Rs 90 million. Under its Hybrid Annuity Model contract, MEIL holds responsibility for the maintenance of this highway section for 15 years and must undertake reconstruction of slope protection at its own expense.

To address the failure and its causes, the NHAI has appointed an expert panel comprising specialists from top institutions such as the Central Road Research Institute, IIT‑Palakkad and the Geological Survey of India. The team will inspect the affected zone, evaluate engineering practices, and recommend corrective measures to prevent similar failures.

The collapse occurred near Cherkkala in Kasaragod district following heavy rainfall and highlighted serious deficiencies in geotechnical planning and stormwater management. Prior to the collapse, concerns had been raised about unsafe slope cutting and reliance on thin cement coatings rather than structural retaining walls.

Construction in the area was temporarily halted, and the incident resonates with a previous tragedy in May 2025, when an 18‑year‑old worker died after a hillock collapsed at the same project, underscoring the ongoing risk to worker safety.

The NHAI’s action sends a strong message about enforcing contractor accountability and infrastructure integrity in highway development. The expert team’s findings and subsequent repairs will set important precedents for future geotechnical safety standards.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has debarred Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) for one year following a landslip and wall collapse along the Chengala–Neeleshwaram stretch of NH‑66 in Kerala. The incident on 16 June was attributed to inadequate slope protection and poor drainage, exposing dangerous design faults on the roadway.In addition to debarment, MEIL has received a show-cause notice and may face a penalty of up to Rs 90 million. Under its Hybrid Annuity Model contract, MEIL holds responsibility for the maintenance of this highway section for 15 years and must undertake reconstruction of slope protection at its own expense.To address the failure and its causes, the NHAI has appointed an expert panel comprising specialists from top institutions such as the Central Road Research Institute, IIT‑Palakkad and the Geological Survey of India. The team will inspect the affected zone, evaluate engineering practices, and recommend corrective measures to prevent similar failures.The collapse occurred near Cherkkala in Kasaragod district following heavy rainfall and highlighted serious deficiencies in geotechnical planning and stormwater management. Prior to the collapse, concerns had been raised about unsafe slope cutting and reliance on thin cement coatings rather than structural retaining walls.Construction in the area was temporarily halted, and the incident resonates with a previous tragedy in May 2025, when an 18‑year‑old worker died after a hillock collapsed at the same project, underscoring the ongoing risk to worker safety.The NHAI’s action sends a strong message about enforcing contractor accountability and infrastructure integrity in highway development. The expert team’s findings and subsequent repairs will set important precedents for future geotechnical safety standards.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code