Summary：**Crane‑Laden Lorry Stalls on NH‑66 Curve, Triggers Safety Worries Near Naibag Check Post****Introdu

**Crane‑Laden Lorry Stalls on NH‑66 Curve, Triggers Safety Worries Near Naibag Check Post**

**Introduction**
A heavy‑duty lorry transporting a large crane stalled on a sharp bend of National Highway‑66 near the Naibag check post on Tuesday morning, bringing traffic to a standstill for over two hours. The incident, which occurred around 08:15 am, prompted immediate response from local police, highway patrol, and a team of mechanical engineers. Witnesses reported that the vehicle lost power while negotiating the curve, causing the crane to shift precariously and block both lanes.

**Key Developments**
Authorities cordoned off the stretch and diverted vehicles onto the service road while a recovery tow truck attempted to lift the stalled lorry. The crane’s boom, extending approximately 12 metres, had to be secured with additional straps before the vehicle could be moved. No injuries were reported, but the blockage caused significant delays for commuters, freight carriers, and school buses heading toward the coastal belt. The Naibag check post, already a known bottleneck due to routine vehicle inspections, saw its queue swell to nearly a kilometre. Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) arrived on site to assess the road geometry and verify whether the curve’s superelevation meets current safety standards for heavy‑load traffic.

**Industry Analysis**
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the suitability of NH‑66 for oversized cargo movements. Logistics firms have long warned that certain sections of the highway, particularly those with tight curves and limited shoulder width, pose risks when carrying equipment exceeding standard dimensions. According to a 2023 study by the Institute of Transport Economics, nearly 18 % of delay‑related accidents on Indian national highways involve oversized loads navigating sub‑optimal geometry. Industry experts suggest that mandatory route‑planning software, real‑time load‑monitoring sensors, and designated “heavy‑load corridors” could mitigate such hazards. Furthermore, the stall raises questions about the adequacy of breakdown‑response infrastructure on NH‑66, where recovery