Thiruvananthapuram, 05 August (H.S.):

The Centre imposed penalties totalling ₹31.19 crore on contractors and independent engineers over major construction deficiencies, structural failures and safety lapses reported on National Highway projects in Kerala during 2025, according to data furnished in Parliament.

Action was taken following defects or failures detected on six National Highway stretches across the State, including portions of the ongoing NH-66 development.

The biggest penalty — ₹30.74 crore — was imposed on the contractor handling the National Highway connectivity project to the Vallarpadam container terminal after distress was detected in the pile foundation of a bridge.

Serious deficiencies were also reported on the Kodungallur-Edappally section of NH-66. Officials detected substandard work involving minor bridges and backfill material used for Reinforced Soil (RS) walls. Other lapses included inadequate safety precautions, delayed grouting of girders, bulging of bearings and poor-quality and defective reinforced earth panels.

The concessionaire was debarred for one year, while rectification work was ordered to be carried out at the contractor's cost.

On the Chengala-Neeleshwaram section of NH-66, a soil-nailing collapse resulted in a ₹30 lakh penalty on the contractor and ₹5 lakh on the Independent Engineer.

Following the collapse of a reinforced earth wall on the Valanchery bypass, the contractor and Independent Engineer were barred from participating in future bids for one month or until completion of an Expert Committee investigation, whichever is later. The incident had raised widespread concerns over the safety of NH construction in Kerala and prompted safety audits.

The National Highways Authority of India also imposed a ₹15.35 lakh penalty following the collapse of four girders on the Thuravoor-Paravoor stretch. The bridge engineer and team leader were terminated.

In November 2025, a pickup van driver was killed after a concrete girder from the elevated highway project in Alappuzha collapsed onto his vehicle.

Defects were also detected in reinforced earth walls along the Ramanattukara-Valanchery stretch, where the contractor was directed to undertake rectification work at its own cost.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman