Concrete tunnel construction on NH53 to mitigate landslide disruptions
14 Jul 2023
2 Min Read
CW Team
Construction work on the concrete tunnel in Sambalpur city's Laxmi Dungri area, located on the National Highway (NH)-53 (Mumbai-Kolkata), is scheduled to begin in August this year. The purpose of this tunnel is to prevent disruptions in traffic caused by landslides.
K Nageswar Rao, the Project Director of the National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) in Sambalpur, stated that the tunnel's plan and design will be finalised by the end of this month. The geotechnical survey, essential for the tunnel's construction, will commence shortly with the arrival of the survey team. The tunnel will be built on a section of the four-lane highway, specifically the part that runs along Laxmi Dungri.
The NHAI has secured a budget of Rs 37 crore for the tunnel project. Once the plan and design are prepared, the NHAI will seek consultation from IIT Bhubaneswar before finalising the details. The main objective of the tunnel is to enhance safety for passengers and vehicles traveling on NH-53 by minimising the risk of accidents caused by landslides in the Laxmi Dungri area.
If all goes according to plan, construction work on the tunnel is expected to commence by the end of August and be completed by December, according to Rao. Laxmi Dungri, situated on a hilltop within a reserve forest, frequently experiences landslides during the rainy season, resulting in traffic disruptions along NH-53. The vulnerable stretch spans approximately 700 meters.
The first landslide incident at Laxmi Dungri occurred in September 2007, causing over 17 hours of traffic disruption. Another significant landslide transpired in August 2017. Similarly, in August 2022, heavy rainfall triggered a landslide, blocking a section of the four-lane NH at Laxmi Dungri with boulders and debris. Most recently, on June 30, another landslide occurred in the same area.
Construction work on the concrete tunnel in Sambalpur city's Laxmi Dungri area, located on the National Highway (NH)-53 (Mumbai-Kolkata), is scheduled to begin in August this year. The purpose of this tunnel is to prevent disruptions in traffic caused by landslides.K Nageswar Rao, the Project Director of the National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) in Sambalpur, stated that the tunnel's plan and design will be finalised by the end of this month. The geotechnical survey, essential for the tunnel's construction, will commence shortly with the arrival of the survey team. The tunnel will be built on a section of the four-lane highway, specifically the part that runs along Laxmi Dungri.The NHAI has secured a budget of Rs 37 crore for the tunnel project. Once the plan and design are prepared, the NHAI will seek consultation from IIT Bhubaneswar before finalising the details. The main objective of the tunnel is to enhance safety for passengers and vehicles traveling on NH-53 by minimising the risk of accidents caused by landslides in the Laxmi Dungri area.If all goes according to plan, construction work on the tunnel is expected to commence by the end of August and be completed by December, according to Rao. Laxmi Dungri, situated on a hilltop within a reserve forest, frequently experiences landslides during the rainy season, resulting in traffic disruptions along NH-53. The vulnerable stretch spans approximately 700 meters.The first landslide incident at Laxmi Dungri occurred in September 2007, causing over 17 hours of traffic disruption. Another significant landslide transpired in August 2017. Similarly, in August 2022, heavy rainfall triggered a landslide, blocking a section of the four-lane NH at Laxmi Dungri with boulders and debris. Most recently, on June 30, another landslide occurred in the same area.
Next Story
3i Infotech Reports Rs 7.25 Bn Revenue for FY25
3i Infotech, a leading provider of digital transformation, technology services and technology solutions, announced its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and full year FY25, ended on March 31st, 2025. The company maintained its growth momentum, displaying consistent progress for the 3rd consecutive quarter.In Q4 FY25, 3i Infotech reported revenue of Rs 1.87 billion, reflecting steady performance compared to Rs 1.81 billion in Q3 FY25 and Rs 1.97 billion in Q4 FY24. The company delivered strong profitability improvements, with gross margin growing by 14.8 per cent Q-o-Q and 1..
Next Story
Emerald Finance Joins Baya PTE to Boost SME Bill Discounting
Emerald Finance is a dynamic company offering a spectrum of financial products and services including its flagship Earned Wage Access (EWA) in India, has entered into a strategic partnership with Singapore-based Baya PTE through its Indian subsidiary. This collaboration aims to strengthen bill discounting services for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), enabling faster access to working capital and improved cash flow management.The initiative is designed to support SMEs that supply to large corporates such as JSW Steel, Delhivery, and PVR INOX, among others. By facilitating timely invoice dis..
Next Story
BLS E-Services Crosses Rs 5 Bn Revenue Mark in FY25
BLS E-Services, a technology-enabled digital service provider, announced its audited consolidated financial results for the quarter and full year period ended 31 March 2025.Speaking about the performance and recent updates, Shikhar Aggarwal, Chairman, BLS E- Services said, 鈥淲e are delighted to report a remarkable performance in FY25, as we achieved several milestones during the fiscal year. FY25 marked our highest-ever financial performance, as we surpassed Rs 5 billion milestone in Total Income during the year, which was reported at Rs 5.45 billion, a notable YoY growth of 76 per cent. The ..
