Thiruvananthapuram: The four-member expert committee appointed by the National Highways Authority of India had warned well in advance that the construction of National Highway 66 in Kerala, stretching from Talapady in Kasaragod to Karode in Thiruvananthapuram, was plagued by unscientific practices that could trigger a major disaster.

In its report, the committee also noted that the project was prepared without considering Kerala’s unique climatic conditions and geographical features. As a result, losses and damage from landslides, soil incursions, road washouts, and similar hazards may occur. The recent caving-in of the under-construction NH stretch at Kottiyam near Kollam serves as a stark reminder of this warning.

Four months on, still no action
The committee was appointed following a collapse of the NH stretch at Kooriyad, Malappuram, in May this year. The team comprised Dr Kishor Kumar, former Chief Scientist at the Central Road Research Institute, New Delhi; Chief Scientist Dr P S Prasad; K Aravind, Director for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry at the Geological Survey of India; and Dr T K Sudheesh, Head of the Civil Engineering Department at IIT Palakkad.

Although the report was submitted in the first week of August, the authorities have not initiated any steps to implement the corrective measures as recommended in it.