Thu May 22 10:27:38 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

A portion of the National Highway-66 in Kerala, India, collapsed on May 19, 2025. Following an inquiry prompted by concerns raised by a Member of Parliament, the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways has blacklisted the construction company (KNR Constructions) and consultant firm (Highway Engineering Consultant (HEC)) involved, barring them from future government tenders. The government is also investigating company officials and withdrawing their bank guarantees. Concerns are being raised about the faulty Detailed Project Report (DPR), lack of environmental impact assessments, and potential alterations made for vested interests. Both the ruling LDF and opposition UDF are engaged in a blame game regarding the highway’s design and construction.

**News Article:**

**Highway Collapse in Kerala Sparks Investigation, Construction Firm Blacklisted**

**Thiruvananthapuram, May 22, 2025** – The Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways has taken swift action following the collapse of a section of National Highway-66 near Kooriyad in Kerala’s Malappuram district on May 19th. The ministry has blacklisted KNR Constructions, the Andhra Pradesh-based firm responsible for the highway’s construction, and Highway Engineering Consultant (HEC), the consulting firm. This action prohibits them from participating in future Central government tenders.

The move follows a meeting between Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader E.T. Muhammed Basheer, MP, who raised concerns about the “structural flaws” along NH-66 posing a public safety risk. An expert committee was immediately dispatched, and their preliminary report led to the blacklisting.

The government has also withdrawn bank guarantees for both firms and launched an investigation into company officials. Gadkari has pledged a safety audit of NH-66 in North Kerala and promised to recover rectification costs from KNR Constructions and HEC.

Meanwhile, the quality of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is under intense scrutiny. Officials from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) suggest it may be faulty, lacking provisions like underpasses for local residents. Concerns have also been raised by MP Suresh Gopi, who alleges the DPR was altered multiple times, prioritizing vested interests over the environment.

The incident has triggered a political blame game between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF). The UDF claims to have previously warned about the “unscientific and environmentally destructive” design of the highway, citing a lack of soil tests and environmental impact assessments. The LDF, while taking credit for the highway’s completion, has been criticized for not addressing the structural issues.

The collapse has raised serious questions about the quality control and planning processes for national highway projects, with both the central and state governments facing increasing pressure to ensure the safety and sustainability of infrastructure development.

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