NHAI initiates safety assessment of 29 Tunnels under construction across India post Uttarkashi collapse
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) announced a comprehensive safety assessment of 29 tunnels under construction nationwide. Collaborating with experts, NHAI aims to ensure adherence to the highest quality standards.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, November 22, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) stated that it will conduct a safety assessment of all 29 tunnels now under construction nationwide to guarantee safety and compliance with the “highest quality standards.”
“NHAI officials, along with a team of experts from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as well as other tunnel experts, will inspect the ongoing tunnel projects and will submit a report within seven days,” the statement continued.
Additionally, NHAI and Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) inked a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU). According to the terms of the agreement, KRCL will assist NHAI projects by reviewing the design, drawings, and safety considerations associated with the building of tunnels and slope stabilization. It will also carry out tunnel safety audits. Furthermore, KRCL intends to arrange training courses aimed at enhancing the proficiency of NHAI officers.
A comparable contract was inked between NHAI and DMRC in September 2023 for the provision of services related to the planning, designing, building, and upkeep of tunnels and bridges on national roads.
The 29 tunnels currently under construction total 79 kilometers in length. There are twelve tunnels in Himachal Pradesh, six in Jammu and Kashmir, two in Maharashtra, one in Uttarakhand, one in Madhya Pradesh, and one in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and one in Rajasthan. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) made the announcement in the wake of the November 12 collapse of the Silkyara Tunnel, which is still under construction in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.
At the Silkyara tunnel collapse site, where 41 workers are still trapped, rescue efforts have stepped up. According to officials, around 67% of the augur drilling has been finished. The chief minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, had earlier on Wednesday voiced optimism about the evacuation operations’ results. “Today, the auger machine is operational. I’m hoping for the safe exit of every employee.”
Officials from the area indicate that some “big news” may be released either today or tomorrow.
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