Centre to Revise Char Dham Road Project to Mitigate Landslide Risks
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Centre to Revise Char Dham Road Project to Mitigate Landslide Risks

In a statement made in the Rajya Sabha, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, discussed the threat of landslides in Uttarakhand, specifically in the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone. He mentioned that the government was contemplating modifications to some of the roads being constructed under the Chardham project due to these concerns.

Gadkari was addressing a question posed by Ranjit Ranjan, a Congress member from Chhattisgarh. Ranjan had highlighted that, out of the nearly 900 kilometers of roads planned under the Chardham project, only 150 kilometres of the final stretch remained to be completed. He inquired whether it was possible to avoid widening the roads in this area, which lies within the Bhagirathi River zone, known for maintaining the river Ganga?s natural flow.

Gadkari explained that the stretch in question was strategically significant for transporting defence equipment to the China border. Given the frequent landslides in the region, three measures had been decided upon: first, to employ a via-duct to ensure the road does not physically touch the mountain; second, to construct a concrete shelter for landslide protection; and third, to potentially build tunnels, even if it required an additional expenditure of Rs 20 to Rs 40 billion. He emphasised the importance of protecting the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone, ensuring that trees were preserved, noting that nearly 30 million trees had been planted and 78,000 transplanted.

Gadkari also recalled that last November, a section of the Silkyara tunnel, part of the Chardham project, had collapsed, trapping miners who were eventually rescued after a two-week operation.

The Chardham project had been controversial due to its tunnelling and excavation through unstable Himalayan terrain, as well as the decision by project proponents to divide it into 53 smaller segments to avoid a cumulative impact assessment.

In a statement made in the Rajya Sabha, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, discussed the threat of landslides in Uttarakhand, specifically in the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone. He mentioned that the government was contemplating modifications to some of the roads being constructed under the Chardham project due to these concerns. Gadkari was addressing a question posed by Ranjit Ranjan, a Congress member from Chhattisgarh. Ranjan had highlighted that, out of the nearly 900 kilometers of roads planned under the Chardham project, only 150 kilometres of the final stretch remained to be completed. He inquired whether it was possible to avoid widening the roads in this area, which lies within the Bhagirathi River zone, known for maintaining the river Ganga?s natural flow. Gadkari explained that the stretch in question was strategically significant for transporting defence equipment to the China border. Given the frequent landslides in the region, three measures had been decided upon: first, to employ a via-duct to ensure the road does not physically touch the mountain; second, to construct a concrete shelter for landslide protection; and third, to potentially build tunnels, even if it required an additional expenditure of Rs 20 to Rs 40 billion. He emphasised the importance of protecting the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone, ensuring that trees were preserved, noting that nearly 30 million trees had been planted and 78,000 transplanted. Gadkari also recalled that last November, a section of the Silkyara tunnel, part of the Chardham project, had collapsed, trapping miners who were eventually rescued after a two-week operation. The Chardham project had been controversial due to its tunnelling and excavation through unstable Himalayan terrain, as well as the decision by project proponents to divide it into 53 smaller segments to avoid a cumulative impact assessment.

Next Story
Technology

Atlas Copco Unveils Innovation Centre in Pune for Smart Manufacturing

Atlas Copco Tools has inaugurated its first Smart Factory Innovation Centre in India, a cutting-edge facility in Pune designed to showcase advanced technologies powering Smart Integrated Assembly ecosystems. The centre will serve as a hub for businesses across automotive, aerospace, electronics, heavy machinery, and manufacturing sectors to explore automation and smart manufacturing solutions for zero-defect production.The Innovation Centre offers hands-on demonstrations of the latest torquing and dispensing technologies, highlighting software-driven solutions that optimize efficiency, enhance..

Next Story
Resources

Elite Elevators Unveils India’s First Fully Customizable Home Elevator

Elite Elevators, a leader in the premium home lift segment, has launched Elite Elevators Bespoke—India’s first fully customizable luxury home elevator. The launch event, held at the company’s Chennai headquarters, showcased how the new offering redefines residential mobility by integrating state-of-the-art technology with personalized design.Speaking on the launch, Vimal Babu, Founder and CEO, Elite Elevators, said, “At Elite Elevators, our mission has always been to revolutionize home mobility with world-class innovations. Through its enhanced customizable features, our Bespoke elevat..

Next Story
Real Estate

Under-Construction Homes Now Costlier Than Ready-to-Move Properties

Under-construction (UC) homes are now more expensive than ready-to-move (RTM) properties across major Indian metros, according to the latest insights from Magicbricks.In Delhi, UC homes are priced at Rs 25,921 per sq. ft., surpassing RTM properties at Rs 18,698 per sq. ft. Similarly, in Gurugram, UC homes cost Rs 17,185 per sq. ft., compared to Rs 14,617 per sq. ft. for RTM properties.Mumbai, India’s costliest real estate market, has also seen a sharp rise, with UC home prices soaring 33.4 per cent Y-o-Y in Q1 2025 to Rs 32,371 per sq. ft., while RTM properties stand at Rs 28,935 per sq. ft...

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?