Silkyara tunnel has provision for escape route, says Gadkari

The government on Thursday informed Parliament that the contract for the Silkyara tunnel project includes provisions for the construction of an escape passage.

 

This announcement follows a tragic incident in which 41 workers were trapped after a portion of the under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand collapsed on 12 November 2023. The workers were successfully rescued on 28 November.

 

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in a written response to the Lok Sabha, stated that the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has mandated the inclusion of an escape passage in the contract for the construction of the 2-lane bi-directional Silkyara Bend-Barkot tunnel on NH-134, as per the directives of the Cabinet Committee.

 

Gadkari emphasised that the project, which is being executed by Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd., was approved with a focus on addressing potential risks, including shear zones, through the application of scientific technology and methodologies.

 

The 4.5-kilometre tunnel, part of the Centre's 900-kilometre Char Dham Yatra All Weather Road initiative, aims to enhance connectivity to four key pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand.