New Delhi: The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has taken decisive steps in response to the recent highway collapse at the Kuriad stretch in Malappuram. In a strong message of accountability, KNR Constructions, the firm responsible for the original work, has been instructed to clear the debris and reconstruct the affected section this time as a flyover entirely at its own cost, estimated to be ₹80 crore.

In addition to this, the independent consultant for the project, Bhopal Highway Engineering Consultant, also came under fire. The team leader of the consultancy firm has been suspended, and KNR Constructions has been temporarily blacklisted pending further review.

This action follows the findings of an expert inspection team from IITs Delhi, Kanpur, and Gandhinagar. The committee comprising Dr. Anil Dixit, Dr. Jimmy Thomas, and Dr. K. Mohankrishna conducted an on-site evaluation and submitted a preliminary report to the Union Ministry of Road Transport on Thursday.

Their investigation revealed that the collapse was primarily caused by the failure to assess and address the soil’s foundational properties during both the design and construction phases a grave engineering oversight. The inspection was carried out under the guidance of Prof. G.V. Rao, lending additional weight to the report’s conclusions.

The NHAI's swift and strict measures aim not only to ensure accountability but also to prevent such critical lapses in infrastructure development in the future.