'Landslide-prone spots on E-way identified, corrective steps

Maharashtra PWD Minister Eknath Shinde today told the Legislative Council that all the spots along the Mumbai-Pune Expressway that are prone to landslides, have been identified and geological survey of all these sensitive locations will soon be taken up.

Shinde also said that the Expressway contractor will also pay a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the three victims, who died in a landslide at the mouth of Adoshi tunnel near Khopoli on the Expressway on July 19. The state government has already announced Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd has the contract to operate and maintain Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
 

"All the dangerous spots on the expressway that are prone to landslides have been identified and currently, stones are being felled and the roads are being cleared.

"We are thinking of placing censors at sensitive spots and as a permanent solution at the Adoshi tunnel, we are thinking of extending the length of the tunnel by 100 metres. Along with this, we will do a geological survey of all the sensitive spots on the expressway and bind the stones using high-tensile cable steel net," Shinde said.

He said after the Adoshi tunnel mishap, a Swiss company named Isofer inspected the spot using laser technology and it has been asked to submit its report at the earliest.

"Technology experts from Australia will also visit the spot soon," he added.

All possible steps are being taken to ensure that incidents of landslides don't happen on the Expressway and that the contractor has been asked to ensure that toll is not collected between 10am and 6pm at the two toll nakas located where repair work is in progress, he said.

According to the minister, a legal expert committee as well as a technical committee have been formed to find out the causes behind the incident and that stern action will be taken against those found guilty by the panels.

"The committees will submit a report to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) department by September 2015," he told the House.