Green Channel facilitates movement of heavy machinery

Officials have established a dedicated green channel spanning multiple states to facilitate the transportation of heavy machinery and equipment via railways and roadways. This initiative aims to support the implementation of four alternative strategies in the event of obstacles encountered during horizontal drilling by auger machines, as stated by officials. The seamless movement of heavy equipment is being ensured in Odisha, Gujarat, Mumbai, and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is actively coordinating the transportation of these heavy machines, maintaining communication with officials from both state and central agencies. PK Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, conducted review meetings with stakeholders to assess the progress of the rescue mission. At the rescue site, officials reported that the machine from Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, a crucial component of the vertical rescue tunnel construction alternative plan, has arrived and is currently being installed. In the realm of railways, the ministry is collaborating with state administrations to expedite the movement of machinery using goods trains. Furthermore, plans are underway to execute perpendicular-horizontal drilling through Rail Vikas Nigam. An official explained that equipment weighing 75 tonnes, transported from Gujarat and Odisha through railways, could not be airlifted. Simultaneously, measures are being taken to address potential setbacks in horizontal drilling by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL). In a separate effort, ONGC is mobilizing machinery from the United States, Mumbai, and Ghaziabad for vertical boring from the Barkot end of the tunnel.