The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a show cause notice to Megha Engineering and Infrastructure, asking why they should not be debarred from participating in future bids for one year. The move is in view of the flaws in construction that led to collapse of a section of National Highway 66 in Kerala, pending completion of an inquiry into the incident.
According to an NHAI statement, it suspects alleged failure to execute adequate slope protection works and make proper drainage system to mitigate the risks (of collapse), in the highway stretch cited earlier.
Apart from debarment of one year, the show cause notice also includes levy of monetary penalty of up to Rs 90 lakh.
An incident of collapse of slope protection works at Cherkkala in Kasaragod district of Kerala was reported on Chengala – Neeleshwaram Section of NH-66 on 16 June. The incident was caused due to improper design, inadequate slope protection works and poor drainage system.
The project is on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), where the concessionaire has to maintain this section for 15 years and will reconstruct the slope protection works on their own cost.
An expert committee consisting of a senior scientist of Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), a retired professor of IIT-Palakkad and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been constituted to visit the site and review the design and construction of NH-66 in Kerala. The committee will also suggest detailed remedial measures for the project. NHAI is taking all essential steps to ensure necessary measures are taken to address this incident, NHAI said.
