Repeated collapses of concrete drain covers along the national highway-side corridor near Aroor in Ernakulam are creating a growing safety risk for vehicles, with several slabs breaking under the weight of even small lorries, according to a report by Mathrubhumi.
The damaged covers were built as part of works connected with the elevated highway project and related drainage construction. A slab near Kochuvelikkavala in Eramalloor broke on Saturday after a mini-lorry passed over it. A neighbouring slab had reportedly broken five days earlier under similar circumstances.
The latest failure has raised questions about the reinforcement and concreting used in the covers. Mathrubhumi reported that broken slabs appeared to contain insufficient steel reinforcement. The reinforcement was also reportedly placed on the ground before the concrete mix was poured, rather than being positioned at the centre of the slab, where it would normally contribute to structural strength.
Local experts in the field, quoted in the report, attributed the repeated failures to the apparent shortage of reinforcement, the reported method of concreting and the placement of the covers before the concrete had adequately hardened. The report also carried allegations that the contractor may have adopted these methods to save time and money. These concerns have not been independently assessed in the supplied material.
The incidents have already created direct risks for road users. In the latest cases, the lorries did not fall into the drains, reportedly by chance. Earlier incidents involved a drinking-water tanker and a loaded heavy goods vehicle becoming trapped inside the drain after the covers failed.
Concerns have also been reported at Aroor Ambalam Junction, where drain covers in areas used by vehicles are breaking. Plastic barricades have been placed temporarily to prevent vehicles from driving over the damaged sections. However, the location has no lighting at night, increasing the risk for drivers and pedestrians. Thousands of vehicles pass through the junction each day, according to the report, while the damaged covers have not yet been replaced.
The drain crossing the Aroorkutty Road near the national highway was constructed to address waterlogging at Ambalam Junction. One slab that broke soon after construction had previously been replaced, but further concrete covers have since started failing. The repeated damage has therefore shifted the issue from an isolated maintenance problem to a wider concern over the durability and construction quality of drainage infrastructure placed directly within a vehicle route.
The report does not identify an official response from the contractor or the authorities responsible for inspecting, repairing or replacing the covers. Immediate attention remains focused on securing the damaged sections, improving night-time visibility and replacing the failed slabs before further vehicles are exposed to the open drains.
