Kollam: Even as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) prepares to launch a high-level probe into the collapse of an under-construction flyover of NH 66 at Mylakkadu near Kottiyam in Kollam, it has now emerged that authorities had ignored a clear warning issued four months ago about the very same risk.

A four-member expert committee appointed by the NHAI, after a similar incident at Kooriyad in Malappuram, had cautioned about lapses in the construction of the NH stretch on the Kollam Bypass–Kadambattukonam reach. In its report, the committee noted that soil strength was critically low in several locations.

“Similar concerns exist along the under-construction protection wall in the Kollam Bypass–Kadambattukonam reach as well. The soil is weak in several stretches, with SPT test results at some locations as low as 0 or 1. This is extremely critical. Unless the soil is strengthened, the wall under construction is at risk of caving in,” the report warned.

Though the committee had also recommended corrective measures, the failure to act on them has now led to the present crisis.

Expert committee’s site inspection today
A team of NHAI experts from Delhi will inspect the site on Sunday, to be followed by a visit from NHAI Chairman Santosh Yadav on Monday. Traffic along the service road, which has developed deep cracks and collapsed, is expected to be restored by Monday.

Meanwhile, the Delhi-based Shivalaya Construction Ltd, which holds the work contract, along with consultancy firms Feedback Infra (Gurugram) and Sathra Services, have been barred from participating in NHAI tender processes for one month.

The collapse of the flyover’s sidewall on NH 66 on the evening of December 5 created large craters on the service road and left a few vehicles trapped.