NEW DELHI: The National Highways Authority of India ( NHAI ) will soon undertake detailed studies to assess the most suitable options — hill-cutting, viaducts or tunnels — for executing highway projects in hill states .
The decision was made at a brainstorming session held last week on strengthening quality control in highway construction . Sources said some experts pointed out that the cost of stabilising slopes after cutting hills is nearly equivalent to that of constructing tunnels. They also suggested that future projects incorporate a balanced mix of all three approaches instead of relying predominantly on hill-cutting.
The meeting was chaired by road transport and highways secretary V Umashankar.
Hill-cutting for highway expansion has been a contentious issue. Geologists have repeatedly warned that in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, steep hill-cutting without adequate slope stabilisation, along with the indiscriminate dumping of excavated material on riverbanks, can lead to significant environmental degradation and increased disaster risk.
The sources said a decision was also made to prepare a comprehensive manual for highway construction. This manual will aim to ensure adherence to best construction practices and standard operating procedures across projects. “It was felt that while we have Indian Road Congress (IRC) codes for designs, there is no manual for construction. Moreover, we need to create capacity among all workers engaged in highway projects, which impacts the quality of work. Govt will also bring out a proper training module for workers,” an official said.
There have been growing concerns over the quality of highway construction, with numerous complaints about newly built stretches showing signs of damage just months after their inauguration. “There is still no clear focus on addressing issues related to construction quality and long-term maintenance,” said an official familiar with the matter.
The decision was made at a brainstorming session held last week on strengthening quality control in highway construction . Sources said some experts pointed out that the cost of stabilising slopes after cutting hills is nearly equivalent to that of constructing tunnels. They also suggested that future projects incorporate a balanced mix of all three approaches instead of relying predominantly on hill-cutting.
The meeting was chaired by road transport and highways secretary V Umashankar.
Hill-cutting for highway expansion has been a contentious issue. Geologists have repeatedly warned that in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, steep hill-cutting without adequate slope stabilisation, along with the indiscriminate dumping of excavated material on riverbanks, can lead to significant environmental degradation and increased disaster risk.
The sources said a decision was also made to prepare a comprehensive manual for highway construction. This manual will aim to ensure adherence to best construction practices and standard operating procedures across projects. “It was felt that while we have Indian Road Congress (IRC) codes for designs, there is no manual for construction. Moreover, we need to create capacity among all workers engaged in highway projects, which impacts the quality of work. Govt will also bring out a proper training module for workers,” an official said.
There have been growing concerns over the quality of highway construction, with numerous complaints about newly built stretches showing signs of damage just months after their inauguration. “There is still no clear focus on addressing issues related to construction quality and long-term maintenance,” said an official familiar with the matter.
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