Rs 3 crore to avert landslide mishaps

MSRDC to fence various spots on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway to arrest spilling over of mud and stone on highway

Landslides on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway is a given every monsoon. To prevent accidents owing to this unwanted slither of Mother Nature, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has plans to install a 'Steel Wire Rope' netting on several landslide prone areas on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway.


In the net: The project will cover hillocks with net-like meshes, which
will act as arresters. File pic

The project costing Rs 3 crore involves covering hillocks along the expressway with net-like iron meshes, which will act as arresters when rocks or soil come loose. "Garware Wall Ropes, a subsidiary of the Garware group of Industries has been given the contract.

The stretch from Amrutanjan Bridge to Adoshi tunnel is most accident prone and focus has been diverted there," said an MSRDC engineer requesting anonymity.u00a0 "Installing meshes is tricky since they have to be installed in a way which will not disturb the existing soil or rock placement.

If not placed properly it could be more catastrophic as the soil will come crashing down when work is underway. Moreover, an appropriate time also has to be selected. Meshing work becomes difficult when it is raining. We also have to ensure that traffic is not affected."

Work in progress
AP Abrol, executive engineer, MSRDC, said the work was under progress and the corporation was trying its best to complete the work in time. "We are first finishing work on the more sensitive spots and will then start working on the other spots. We have also undertaken measures to ensure that traffic flow is not affected," he said. The other landslide prone spot is near Borghat. The MSRDC will start work near Borghat after work on Amrutanjan bridge and Adoshi tunnel is completed.