Lok Sabha Question No. 856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Fatal Accidents at Aroor-Thuravoor, NH-66 Stretch in Kerala
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Adv. Adoor Prakash, Shri K C Venugopal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 856 ANSWERED ON 4 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## FATAL ACCIDENTS AT AROOR-THURAVOOR, NH-66 STRETCH IN KERALA

856.  SHRI K C VENUGOPAL:

ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry is aware of the repeated fatal accidents, including the recent girder collapse on the Aroor-Thuravoor National Highway-66 construction stretch in Kerala and the reasons for such recurring structural failures;
- (b) whether the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had conducted mandatory safety audits, third-party inspections or loadtesting  before  permitting  traffic  movement,  if  not,  the  reasons therefor and whether the Ministry will fix responsibility for the gross violation of safety protocols;
- (c) the number  of  accidents  and fatalities reported on this specific stretch since construction began and whether the Ministry acknowledges this as the highest accident-prone National Highway construction zone in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government intends to initiate criminal proceedings against the contractor, the construction company and the  supervising  officials  whose  negligence  contributed  to  these preventable deaths, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Ministry will constitute an independent high-level committee  to  inspect  the  site  and  recommend  urgent  corrective measures, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The accidents reported in the project stretch of AroorThuravoor  are  due  to  various  reasons;  viz.,  not  strictly  enforcing approved  traffic  diversion  plans,  not  adhering  to  traffic  rules  and restricted Right of Way etc.

The said fatal accident of girder collapse occurred at 2.30 am on  13.11.2025  on  the  project  site  was  due  to  mechanical  failure (Hydraulic Jack failed) and due to violation of safety protocol by the commuter.

- (b) Safety Audits are being conducted during construction works by appointing third-party consultants. M/s. Samarth Infra Engineering  Technocrats  Pvt.  Ltd  has  been  appointed  to  conduct Road Safety Audit of the project during the construction stage.

Further, on 14.11.2025, RITES has been asked to carry out the Safety Audit of Aroor-Thuravoor (12 KM) 6-lane elevated corridor on NH-66 to be followed for other projects of NH-66.

- (c) No separate record of fatal accidents due to ongoing construction is maintained by the Police Authorities. However, the year-wise  details  of  fatal  accidents  on  the  stretch, obtained  from police authorities, is placed at Annexure.   The information includes accidents  due  to  various  reasons  such  as  not-adhering  to  traffic rules, negligent driving, over-speed etc.
- (d) National  Highways  Authority  of  India  (NHAI)  has  temporarily suspended the Contractor and Authority Engineer for 1 month from bidding  and  issued  Show  Cause  Notices  for  debarment  (up  to  03 years  to  Contractor  and  up  to  2  years  to  Authority  Engineer)  and imposing monetary penalty. The concerned key personnel, associated with the incident, being removed from the project.
- (e) An  Expert  Committee  inspected  the  site  on  14.11.2025  to evaluate the probable cause of the incident of falling of PSC Girders that  had  occurred  on  13.11.2025  at  2.30  am.  Expert  Committee submitted  its  preliminary  report  on  17.11.2025.  The  actions  are being  taken  as  per  the  recommendations  of  the  Committee.  The following safety measures have been implemented:
- (1)      Installation  of  Activity-wise  awareness  signboards  at  all relevant work fronts/ critical locations.
- (2)      Cleaning of Signboards & Barricades.
- (3)      Installation of Regulatory Signboards.
- (4)      Deployment of Traffic Marshals for Traffic Regulation.
- (5)      Mass TBT (Tool Box Talk) for Workforce Awareness.
- (6)      Green Net installation at Barricade areas.
- (7)      Provision of Reflective Tapes on Launching Beam.
- (8)      Installation of Restricted Work-zone Cautionary Signboards.
- (9)      Removal of Hard Barricades in completed median areas.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  856  ANSWERED  ON  4 TH   DECEMBER,  2025 ASKED  BY  SHRI  K  C  VENUGOPAL  AND  ADV.  ADOOR  PRAKASH REGARDING 'FATAL ACCIDENTS AT AROOR-THURAVOOR, NH-66 STRETCH IN KERALA'.

| ABSTRACTOFFATAL ACCIDENT   | ABSTRACTOFFATAL ACCIDENT   |
|----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Year                       | Total Nos                  |
| 2023                       | 14                         |
| 2024                       | 21                         |
| 2025                       | 12                         |
| Total                      | 47                         |

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