Safety First: Progress on 34 Tunnel Projects Across National Highways, 26 in Himalayan Region

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is spearheading 34 tunnel projects nationwide on National Highways (NHs), with a significant focus on safety, according to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Among these, 26 tunnel projects are strategically located in the challenging Himalayan region.

Safety Measures and Design Considerations:

Addressing safety concerns, Minister Gadkari highlighted the incorporation of essential safety features in all projects. These include provisions for emergencies, such as escape tunnels, twin tubes with cross passages, separation walls with emergency openings, lay-byes, and automatic fire detection and suppression systems.

Innovative Design Approaches:

The minister emphasized the implementation of innovative design approaches, citing the example of the Silkyara bi-directional tunnel on the Dharasu – Yamunotri highway (NH-134). This tunnel incorporates a separation wall at the center of the carriageway, along with egress openings at regular intervals for vehicular crossover and pedestrian cross passages. These features enhance safety and facilitate escape during emergencies.

Service Tunnel Concept:

Minister Gadkari referred to the guidelines outlined in IRC: SP:91-2019, suggesting the consideration of a separate service tunnel during the design stage. Factors such as land availability, traffic volume, tunnel length, and additional cost are taken into account. The service tunnel serves as an access point for maintenance without requiring closure of the main tunnel and can be utilized as an escape passage during emergencies.

Immediate Action in Emergencies:

The minister assured that safety measures extend to immediate action during emergencies. In the recent incident of trapped workers, prompt medical aid was provided, and their mental and physical health was assessed. Each worker received financial support of Rs 2.00 lakh, along with one month of paid leave from the Executing Agency. The State Government of Uttarakhand also contributed financial support of Rs 1.00 lakh to each trapped worker.

Minister Gadkari shared this information in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of workers and commuters associated with tunnel projects on National Highways.