After Uttarakhand collapse: Safety lens on under-construction tunnel sites at Shimla and Solan (original) (raw)

Senior NHAI officials and others at one of the tunnel sites in Himachal Pradesh on Monday. (Express Photo)

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After Uttarakhand collapse: Safety lens on under-construction tunnel sites at Shimla and Solan

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Regional Manager, NHAI, Himachal Pradesh, Abdul Basit, along with Project Director, Shimla, Anand Dahiya on Monday inspected various under-construction tunnel sites in Shimla under the Four Laning project of Shimla Bypass and one at Kandaghat in Solan under Kaithlighat Project to check the safety measures being taken by the contractors and the preparedness of contractors in case of any emergency.

The inspection comes in lieu of the recent tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand that left around 41 workers stranded after a portion of the under-construction tunnel caved in. While the inspection of the various sites was done by the regional manager, directions were given to the contractors to take utmost care and ensure all safety precautions so that incidences like the one at Uttarakhand do not occur here.

“In view of the Uttarakhand tunnel incident and to avoid any laxity on the part of the contractors, the constructions site of three tunnels in Shimla under the four Laning project of Shimla Bypass and the one at Kandaghat (on Solan to Kaithlighat Project) were inspected by us,” Dahiya told The Indian Express. He said that Basit has directed the contractors (Singla Infra and Aerif Construction Pvt Ltd) to take all possible safety measures so that any incidences like what happened in Uttarakhand can be avoided.

“Basit also interacted with the various tunnel construction workers and inquired about their well-being and any issue which they are facing regarding their safety. The contractors have been directed to ensure availability of a vertical drilling machine, which should be readily available at each tunnel or nearby location so that it can be used in case of emergency situations like the one in Uttarakhand,” Dahiya added.

The official further said three tunnels in Shimla Bypass project, with two tubes in each tunnel, one at Kandaghat were inspected. The contractors have been directed to make an inventory ready with immediate effect with all the machinery available with them, and also the machinery that is available with the contractors of the NHAI that are working in their nearby areas, and also the contact numbers of all should be readily available with them during any case of emergency.

“Also the lighting that has been done at the under-construction site of the tunnels should be further enhanced. Emphasis was also laid on the communication system with the various walkies talkies being used to be functional and readily available so that in case of any emergency, the communication system does not give up. The contact numbers of all the near by hospitals and emergency numbers should be ready with them. All the directions have to be implemented within 24 hours from today,” Dahiya elaborated.

The contractors have also been directed to ensure regular medical check ups for all the workers working in the tunnels so that if found unfit, can be shifted to another under construction site rather than making them work in the tunnels.

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“The constriction companies have been warned that no laxity in the safety of the workers will be tolerated. He also directed that regular mock drills should be conducted at each under-construction site to check the preparedness of the contractors and evacuation plan,” added Dahiya.