Kooriyad NH 66 stretch opens after reconstruction

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has reopened the collapsed stretch of National Highway (NH) 66 at Kooriyad near Tirurangadi after replacing the damaged elevated section with viaducts.

Around 200 metres of the under-construction highway had caved in on May 19, 2025, after the eight-metre embankment gave way under rainwater pressure.

Following the collapse, the NHAI blacklisted contractor KNRCL and directed it to rebuild the damaged portion using viaducts. Reconstruction began in September last year and was completed on May 13.

The 377-metre viaduct has 26 pillars. The stretch was partially opened on May 10 and fully opened three days later.

The collapse had left wide cracks on the service road below as the foundation sank. A large section of the embankment had heaved up, forming a ridge of displaced earth and exposing a major engineering failure in the highway’s design.

Passengers travelling in three cars on the service road below escaped with minor injuries when the embankment collapsed.

The incident triggered widespread protests and political controversy, with both the CPI(M) and the BJP, which had earlier claimed credit for the project, distancing themselves from it after the collapse.

With the reopening of the Kooriyad stretch, Malappuram now has a 77-km uninterrupted stretch of the six-lane highway, with only a small portion at Kuttippuram left to be completed.