Design and Implementation Flaws Behind NH 66 Wall Collapse in Kerala: Expert Panel

Speedy Summary:

• An expert panel investigated the collapse of reinforced earth (RE) walls on National Highway 66 in Kerala.
• The findings revealed deficiencies in design, quality checks, monitoring, and geological considerations during construction.
• Premature failures included subsidence,cracks,and distress across RE wall segments and cut slopes along the highway alignment.
• Main issues identified:

– Lack of ground advancement measures like soil replacement or reinforcement for stability.
– Absence of systematic geological input in planning and execution stages.- Failure to utilise Geological Survey of India (GSI) expertise despite a technical collaboration agreement signed earlier in january 2024.

• Public protests occurred following damages that created safety concerns and traffic disruptions on NH-66.
• Recommendations:

– Mandate geosciences experts or specialised agencies like GSI in all highway projects for risk evaluation at various stages including planning, construction, monitoring, and material validation.
– Conduct immediate geological consultations to re-evaluate slope risks on vulnerable sections under NH-66.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The expert panel’s report underscores systemic lapses across multiple stages of infrastructure development-designing highways without geological rigor risks catastrophic events. Despite available resources from institutions like GSI through agreements with NHAI, their services were overlooked. This points to inefficiencies in inter-agency collaboration crucial for constructing roads amidst challenging terrains.

Looking forward, the recommendation to proactively integrate geosciences expertise ensures future projects account for terrain complexities upfront rather than remedially reacting post-collapse. For a country balancing ambitious infrastructure growth with diverse geology risks-such insights could guide safer practices nationwide while maintaining public trust amid growing scrutiny over project accountability.

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