India making strides in tunnel technology: Bhamre

India is making rapid advancement in the construction of tunnels both for road and rail networks, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said here on Thursday.

He said the construction of Chenani-Nashri highway tunnel and Banihal-Qazikund rail tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir and a number of tunnels made by Delhi Metro proved India's technical prowess in this specialised field.

The minister's remarks came as he inaugurated a two-day seminar on "Challenges in Planning, Investigation, Design and Construction of Highway Tunnels in Himalayan Region", organised by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) here.

The completion of 8.80-km-long highway tunnel in the near future across Rohtang Pass, which is being constructed by BRO, would ensure proper connectivity, he added.

Bhamre stated that in the Himalayan region, road infrastructure was of special significance as it was the only means of mobility, logistic support and the area's overall development.

"In the Himalayas, tunnel construction forms an important feature of the road and rail network to ensure an all-weather, smooth and reliable communication, even if at initial stages it is a costly solution," Bhamre said.

BRO Director General Lt Gen S.K. Shrivastava, Director General Military Operations Lt Gen Anil Bhatt, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director Mangu Singh and Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi Director, Professor V. Ramgopal Rao were also present on the occasion.

--IANS

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