The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commissioned RITES Limited to conduct an urgent and comprehensive safety audit of the ongoing construction of the six-lane elevated corridor on NH 66 between Aroor and Thuravoor.
According to an official statement on Friday, the NHAI has ordered a safety inspection to ensure that the construction work meets the highest standards of safety and quality. The scope of work for RITES Limited is designed to thoroughly review the implementation of the project.
The team will ensure that work carried out on site strictly adheres to the approved construction plans and methods. The main focus will be on verifying that all safety norms in the work zones and rules for the protection of workers and the public in the vicinity of the construction site are followed as per the guidelines laid down by the Indian Road Congress (IRC).
Based on the outcome of the Aroor-Thuravoor audit, NHAI will take steps to extend safety inspection activities to other sections of the NH-66 corridor to ensure uniform safety and quality across all major highway projects in the region.
Officials from the NHAI, including members of an expert committee, on Friday visited the site of the girder collapse on the Aroor-Thuravoor elevated road, where the pickup truck driver was killed, to ascertain the cause of the accident. The team examined where the beam fell, as well as the area where it was installed. Representatives of the contractor responsible for construction on the given section of the state highway were also present.
The collector is looking for a message
The District Collector has sought a detailed report on the accident, which has apparently brought to the fore the inadequacies of various agencies in ensuring the safety of the public and motorists.
Alappuzha MP KC Venugopal has written to Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari demanding strict action against those responsible for the accident and compensation to Rajesh’s family. He also urged the Union Minister to initiate an inquiry into the ongoing work, identify systemic deficiencies and recommend safety guidelines to prevent further accidents.
Tharoor’s petition
In a separate petition, MP Shashi Tharoor called for an independent safety audit of all ongoing national highway construction zones in Kerala and a suspension of all high-risk construction activities until certified safety clearances are obtained.
He also suggested ordering the publication of a revised completion schedule along with quarterly progress and safety reports for all national highway projects in the state.
Published – 14 Nov 2025 20:40 IST
