As many as 72 NH projects in the country reported collapse or major deficiencies in construction during the past five years across the country. Kerala is second to Maharashtra in terms of failures on NH stretches. The state reported 10 collapses between 2020 and 2025 while 19 incidents were reported in Maharashtra. A cumulative penalty of ₹32.18 crore was slapped on contractors for major lapses, which led to failures on different stretches in Kerala.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) removed 11 officers from service on account of performance assessment and disciplinary action was taken against 11 other officers for various reasons including negligence and dereliction of duties, revealed a set of replies furnished in the parliament. 

The MoRTH slapped a penalty of ₹298 crore on 55 firms engaged as contractor/concessionaire, and 22 firms were debarred/terminated/suspended in the last three years for lapses across various states in India. Among consultants, 28 firms faced action and 18 key personnel were suspended in the last three years. 

In Kerala, four girders had collapsed on the Thalassery-Mahe bypass section in 2020. A penalty of ₹1 crore was imposed the contractor and was debarred from participating in the tender for a period of one year. A penalty of ₹20 lakhs was slapped on the Authority's Engineer. Team Leader and Bridge Engineer were terminated from the project and debarred for 2 years. The Project Manager of the Contractor was terminated from the project.

Between 2022 and 2025, the vehicular underpass collapsed, and a soil-nailing failure incident was reported on the Chengala-Neeleshwaram section of NH-66. The highest penalty of ₹30.74 crore was imposed when distress in pile foundation was observed in two bridges at Vallarpadam from Kalamassery to Vallarpadam NH-966A in 2025. Damages in pile foundation were spotted on Kodungallur - Edapally NH 66 in 2025, following which the concessionaire was debarred for one year. 

In 2025, an unprotected soil slip in the cut section occurred with debris deposition on carriageways on the Neeleshwaram - Taliparamba section of NH-66. The retaining wall collapsed on the Valanchery - Kappirikad section of NH -66 in 2025, leading to the debarment of the contractor and the independent engineer from participating in bidding for a one-month period. 

When four girders collapsed during construction on Thuravoor-Paravoor stretch in 2025, NHAI, imposed a penalty of ₹15.35 lakhs. The bridge engineer and team leader were terminated. 

The scaffolding of the minor bridge collapsed on the Kollam bypass-Kadambattukonam stretch in 2025, and a penalty of ₹9.55 lakh was imposed on the concessionaire. When two girders collapsed on the Aroor-Thuravoor section of NH-66, the NHAI found out that failure on the part of the engineer to review the efficacy of the material being used in the work and not ensuring the application of the approved launching scheme led to the accident.

Early in December, in a shocking repeat of the Malappuram incident, a portion of the sidewall collapsed on an under-construction site of NH-66 in Kollam, leaving craters on the service road and trapping vehicles. The passengers in the vehicles, including a school bus, had a miraculous escape following the incident.