Lok Sabha Question No. 849 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-24
Subject: Substandard  Soil Nailing Procedures on NH 66
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it has come to the notice of the Government that the soil nailing procedures have been carried out at a substandard level, especially on National Highway (NH) 66 and if so, the details thereof
- (b) whether  any  action  has  been  taken  against  such  firms  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (c) whether adequate testing of the quality of the soil and evaluation of the soil nailing process has been carried out by the National Highways Authority of India  for  highways  in  Kerala,  considering  the  heavy  rainfall  and  waterlogging conditions in the State and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) and (b)  The details are annexed.
- (c)     The Contractor/Concessionaire is obligated to carry out adequate testing of  soil/slopes  and  evaluation  of  slope/cut  protection  measures  as  per  the guidelines  and  standards  of  Indian  Road  Congress  (IRC)  in  accordance  with Contract/Concession agreement. Independent Engineer/Authority Engineer and Project Director are responsible for random test check of samples.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 849 ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2025

## SUBSTANDARD SOIL NAILING PROCEDURES ON NH 66

## 849.  ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  AND  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 849 ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2025 ASKED BY ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE REGARDING 'SUBSTANDARD SOIL NAILING PROCEDURES ON NH 66'.

|   Sl. No | Details of Soil Nailing Procedures that have been carried out at a Substandard level                                                      | Action Taken                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Incident of soil nailing collapse occurred on 16.06.2025 between Ch. 58+040 to Ch. 58.100 (60m) in Chengala-Neeleshwaram section of NH-66 | Show cause notice issued to Concessionaire and its promoter M/s. Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Ltd. for debarment upto 1 year or completion of rectification work, whichever is later + penalty of 5% of Current value of failed work or 0.5% of Contract value of whole work whichever is more, besides temporarily suspending them from participating in ongoing / future bids of NHAI for one month or till they submit remedial measures with proper studies / demonstrate such failures do not repeat. |
|        2 | Soil nailing works collapsed from km 191+820 to km 192+100 (LHS), km 193+400 to km 193+540 in the stretch of Azhiyur- Vengalam.           | Show cause notice issued to Concessionaire M/s. Azhiyur-Vengalam Road Pvt. Ltd. for debarment upto 1 year + penalty of Rs. 50 Lakh to Rs. 5 Crore. Concessionaire has been directed to carryout rectification/remedial measures at their own cost. Show Cause Notice issued to IE for debarment upto 1 year & penalty of Rs. 20 Lakh.                                                                                                                                                                            |

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