Thu May 29 20:18:11 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) admitted to the Kerala High Court that the collapse of newly-built sections of National Highway 66 in Kerala was primarily due to the use of poor and saturated loamy soil during construction. The NHAI blamed the ‘concessionaire’ for negligence in assessing ground conditions. The High Court criticized the NHAI for not being aware of the potential issues with the soil type and for the inconvenience caused to the public. The NHAI had previously admitted to lapses in embankment construction at Kooriyad and other locations on NH 66. The court directed the NHAI to submit a report detailing the causes of the collapse and proposed rectification measures.

**News Article:**

**Poor Soil Blamed for NH 66 Collapse in Kerala, Court Questions NHAI Expertise**

**KOCHI, May 30, 2025** – The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has attributed the recent collapses of newly-constructed sections of National Highway 66 in Kerala to the use of poor and saturated loamy soil during construction. The admission was made before the Kerala High Court, which sharply criticized the agency’s oversight.

According to the NHAI, the collapses occurred due to the negligence of the ‘concessionaire’ who failed to properly assess ground conditions and increase the ground-bearing capacity before commencing construction.

The High Court questioned the NHAI’s claim, pointing out that as experts in national highway construction, the agency should have been aware of the risks associated with using such soil. The court also expressed concern over the inconvenience caused to the public and urged the NHAI not to take public patience for granted.

This follows previous admissions by the NHAI of lapses in the embankment construction of the highway at Kooriyad in Malappuram district and other areas along NH 66.

The court has directed the NHAI to submit a comprehensive report by May 29th, detailing the specific causes of the highway collapses and the rectification measures the agency plans to implement. This report is expected to shed further light on the failures in the construction process and the steps being taken to prevent future incidents.

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