The decisive action taken by the Central Government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in the wake of the collapse of the elevated highway at Kooriyad in Malappuram is not merely appropriate—it is bold, exemplary, and deserving of unreserved commendation. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways terminated the site engineer responsible for this stretch of the national highway and suspended the project director. The contractor, KNR Constructions, has been ordered to demolish and rebuild the damaged road at its own expense. Additionally, the company has been blacklisted from future highway contracts. These latest actions against officials come after these earlier measures. Unlike the usual practice of punishing only the contracting company for construction faults, this move sends a clear message to the entire administrative system: negligence will face severe consequences.

The incident occurred on May 19, when a section of the wall of the elevated highway at Kooriyad collapsed onto the service road. Although rocks and mud fell onto a car travelling on the service road, the passengers escaped with minor injuries. Shockingly, this happened on a road that was 90% complete. Later inspections revealed that the foundation, built on soft paddy soil, was not strong enough to support the weight of the elevated structure. Engaging in construction negligence, motivated by profit, in a vital project like a national highway—meant to endure continuous heavy traffic—is tantamount to a criminal act. Roads, especially those meant for national connectivity, should be built with extreme precision and caution. What was created here was a potential death trap.

It is the responsibility of NHAI officials to ensure that the contractor executes the construction work with 100% compliance and integrity. Their failure to do so has resulted in these actions. The national highway development initiative is one of the most expensive and expansive infrastructure projects currently undertaken by the central government. The central government has allocated Rs 23,000 crore in this financial year for the development of existing national highways and the construction of new bypasses and related infrastructure in the state. Kerala has received the highest allocation in this category across the country. Yet, it was within such a massive and significant project that the contracting company, with the collusion of National Highways Authority officials, exploited loopholes and committed irregularities in pursuit of illicit profit.

This incident should serve as a lesson not only for officials overseeing national highway projects but also for engineers and officials in the state’s Public Works Department (PWD) responsible for state highways. Once national highway development is completed across the country, toll collection will bring thousands of crores in revenue to the central exchequer annually. To counter financial manipulation by toll companies, the introduction of the FASTag system ensures toll revenue is transferred directly to the government via banks, eliminating previous massive revenue leaks. High-speed highways are gateways to development everywhere. Ensuring traveller safety on these foundational roads is a duty of the central government. This firm disciplinary action reflects both their commitment and resolve to uphold that responsibility.