New Delhi: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has debarred M/s Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. — the largest donor to the BJP through electoral bonds — following the collapse of slope protection works on NH-66 in Kerala.
The incident occurred yesterday, at Cherkkala in Kasaragod district, along the Chengala–Neeleshwaram section of the highway. According to official findings, the collapse was caused by improper design, inadequate slope protection works, and a poor drainage system.
In response, NHAI has taken the following actions:
- Debarred the company and its promoter from participating in future bids
- Issued a Show Cause Notice proposing one-year debarment
- Proposed a monetary penalty of up to ₹.09 crore
The affected highway section is being developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), where the concessionaire is responsible for maintaining the road for 15 years. As per contract terms, the company will now have to reconstruct the failed slope protection works at its own cost.
To investigate further and recommend long-term solutions, NHAI has constituted an expert committee comprising:
- A senior scientist from the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI)
- A Retired Professor from IIT-Palakkad
- Experts from the Geological Survey of India (GSI)
The committee will visit the site and review the design and construction of NH-66 in Kerala. NHAI has assured that it is taking all necessary steps to ensure accountability and prevent such incidents in the future.
This action comes amid heightened public scrutiny, given that Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd. was revealed as the largest contributor to the BJP via the now-scrapped electoral bond scheme.
