The safety audit conducted by IIT experts and geotechnical agencies along NH-66 in the wake of the Mylakkad overbridge collapse has recommended replacing or extending vulnerable Reinforced Earth (RE) overbridges with pillar-supported structures at three critical locations. Following the collapse, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had initiated a comprehensive safety audit of similar earth-filled structures across the stretch. “This step follows an assurance given in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, who promised to evaluate public demands for replacing RE overbridges with pillar-supported structures,” said N.K. Premachandran, MP.

To ensure a rigorous technical evaluation, eight specialised geotechnical agencies were appointed to inspect the soil stability and ground surfaces of all RE overbridges along NH-66. The investigation was being closely supervised by a high-level committee comprising a professor and an associate professor from IIT Delhi, alongside the Head of the Civil Engineering department at IIT Palakkad. After detailed field assessments, the expert panel has submitted its recommendations, which outline specific locations where RE structures should be dismantled and replaced with pillar-supported flyovers, as well as retrofitting measures for existing structures that can be safely retained.

Based on the committee’s findings, proposals have been submitted to the NHAI to construct new pillar-supported overbridges at critical bottlenecks. This includes a 120-meter pillar bridge at Mylakkad, a 440-meter bridge at Kadavoor, and two 80-meter segments totalling 160 meters on both sides at Mevaram.

Additionally, the expert panel has recommended extending the existing pillar flyovers on both the Neendakara and Shaktikulangara sides of the Neendakara bridge, with the Neendakara side extension reaching up to the vehicular underpass. Further structural modifications have been proposed for Chavara, where the pillar overbridges on both sides of the Chavara bridge and the KMML underpass are recommended for extension. “These comprehensive safety and structural upgrade proposals are currently under the final consideration of the NHAI,” said Mr. Premachandran.