Sambalpur: Lakhmidunguri Tunnel Work Starts in August, Tender Process is in the Final Stages
Sambalpur: The long-awaited Lakhmidunguri tunnel work, which has been pending for two decades, is set to start in August of this year. According to information received from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the tender process is in its final stage, and the work is expected to begin within the next two months. This news has revived hopes for a permanent solution to the problematic road that has been a source of distress for travelers on the Kolkata-Mumbai National Highway for more than 20 years.
The NH-53 Howrah-Mumbai National Highway (formerly NH-6) has always greeted travelers with the picturesque view of the Lakhmidunguri hills near the Sambalpur Mahanadi River. However, for the past 18 years, the Lakhmidunguri hill has become a cause of concern for commuters. During the rainy season, soil erosion from the hills leads to massive boulders falling and blocking the highway, posing a constant threat to life. The first major incident occurred in 2006 when a large amount of rock and soil fell from the hill on a rainy day, fortunately with minimal traffic. Since then, the problem has persisted, with soil subsidence occurring to varying degrees every year during the monsoon season, without any proper remedial measures being taken.
The expansion work of this national highway has been ongoing for decades, carried out by Ashoka Buildcon Company. During the construction of the highway that passes through the foot of the hill, Ashoka Buildcon cut and leveled the hill. They built a one-way road along the hill from Burla to Sambalpur and another at its bottom (along the railway line) in the opposite direction. After constructing the road, the company sprayed cement up to a few meters of the hill’s height, which was completely washed away within three years. Local residents have complained about the significant amount of soil and stones falling on rainy days, attributing it to the large machines used during the hill-cutting process. Ashoka Buildcon Company, which collects crores of rupees in tolls from this road, has been accused of showing undue favors.
In 2006, experts from the Indian Geological Institute visited the site after the landslide incident. They reported that the problem arises because the hill is composed of clay. Subsequently, it was decided to construct a high-capacity steel tunnel along with a massive concrete wall along the hill for permanent remediation, along with arrangements for water drainage from the top of the hills. An expenditure of Rs. 22 crores was initially prepared for this project. However, due to the prolonged implementation of the scheme, the cost has now reached nearly 50 crores.
In light of this, NHAI has informed that the tender process for the project has reached its final stage. The work order is expected to be handed over in the next 15 days, and construction work is set to begin by August. This information has provided great reassurance to commuters who have to pay hundreds of rupees in tolls to use this road. With thousands of vehicles passing through this busy one-way road from both sides, the risk of accidents has been increasing every moment. The construction of the tunnel is expected to provide a permanent solution to this long-standing issue.
