Collapse and cracks of NH 66: Construction will not be completed this year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has concluded that the entire National Highway 66 cannot be completed before December due to unscientific construction practices and the collapse of the road. In addition to the six reaches already completed, four more were targeted to be completed by May. The roads collapsed in many places during the rains when more than 90 percent of these reaches in the northern district were completed.

The Malappuram Kooriyad section of the road that collapsed the other day is part of the Ramanattukara-Valancherry reach. Construction here was 95% complete. The collapse occurred when it was scheduled to be inaugurated by the end of this month or early next month. The main road and service road here will have to be rebuilt for several kilometres. The start of the reconstruction will be delayed due to the arrival of the monsoon season. Soil testing will also have to be carried out.

The construction of the flyovers and bridges added later in the Mukkola-Kazhakuttam and Mukkola-Karode reaches, which were completed in the first phase, is not even halfway complete.

Reaches completed

1. Pallikkara- Nileshwaram

2. Thalassery- Mahé

3. Paloli Bridge- Moorad

4. Kazhakoottam Elevated Highway

5. Mukkola- Kazhakoottam

6. Mukkola- Karode

Targeted to be completed in April-May, completed

• Thalappadi- Chengala - 90%

• Kozhikode Bypass 90%

• Ramanattukara- Valanchery 95%

• Valanchery- Kappirikkad 96%

Construction progress of other reaches

1. Chengala- Nileshwaram------- 75%

2. Nileshwaram- Thaliparamba------ 78%

3. Thaliparamba- Muzhappilangad----- 75%

4. Azhiyur-Vengalam------------- 65%

5. Kappirikkad - Thalikulam---------75%

6. Thalikulam-Kodungallur------ 65%

7. Kodungallur-Edappally --------60%

8. Thuravoor-Paravoor ----------------38%

9. Paravoor-Kottamkulangara ----- 60%

10. Kottamkulangara-Kollam------ 68%

11. Kollam-Kadampattukonam--- 72%

12. Kadampattukonam-Kazhakoottam--- 45%

13. Aroor-Thuravoor Elevated Highway---- 55%

''The only solution is to demolish the entire road and build it properly in all the areas where the national highway has collapsed

-B. Vincent,

Former Deputy Engineer,

Public Works Department