NHAI Conducts 'Rain Check' of National Highways, Initiates Steps to Tackle Waterlogging, Landslides

With the onset of the monsoon, the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) said it is ready to address the issue of waterlogging on national highways. Its body, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), has taken various measures for flood preparedness and providing emergency response on the national highways across the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry said that it is taking a multi-pronged approach to provide effective solutions in both hilly and plain regions.

“NHAI is working in close coordination with the other executing agencies, local authorities, and administration to quickly mobilise machinery and manpower to the flood/landslide affected locations. In addition, to ensure availability of resources for effective disaster preparedness, NHAI is mapping the availability of key machineries for timely deployment,” the statement added.

In addition, to avoid waterlogging or a flood-like situation on national highways, NHAI, along with the state irrigation departments, is undertaking joint inspections to ensure that the flow of any running channel or stream is not hindered by a newly constructed highway. On a number of projects, including the Delhi-Katra Expressway, a special drive was conducted in consultation with the irrigation department.

“Also, on national highways passing through urban areas, adequate pumping arrangements will be made on sections wherever there are chances of waterlogging,” the ministry added.

For commuters, the ministry will disseminate information regarding any hindrance on the stretch to national highway users through the Rajmargyatra app.

A dedicated emergency response team equipped with sufficient manpower and machinery has been mobilised at each landslide-prone site in hilly regions in close coordination with the district administration. This will help immediately clear the muck from a national highway to enable 24×7 connectivity and provide safe and smooth movement of traffic.

Temporary barriers and warning signs have been installed at each landslide-prone area to facilitate safe traffic movement.

“For the implementation of preventive measures, vulnerable locations are identified that are likely to be severely affected like flood/landslide/rock fall prone areas, sinking zones etc. NHAI officials are also inspecting various structures which have a history of flooding to identify damage on abutments/piers of the bridges. Warning signs will be installed at vulnerable locations to caution road users,” MoRTH added.

At locations where a national highway may get blocked for traffic movement due to huge landslides, an alternative diversion plan has been chalked out with the district administration. Also, geotechnical instrumentation, including real-time monitoring at a few vulnerable slopes and tunnels, has been implemented as a pilot.

With the advancement of the monsoon across India, NHAI has initiated multiple proactive steps to ensure flood preparedness and enable emergency response. These measures will go a long way to provide a seamless travel experience to national highway users during the monsoon season, the ministry said.