Sambalpur: Passenger Safety Concerns Lead to Tunnel Redesign at Lakshmidunguri; Work Begins in August
New Plan for Landslide Problem
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a new plan to address the problem of landslides and falling rocks near Lakshmidunguri on the busy National Highway 53 on the outskirts of Sambalpur. D.S. Chaudhuri, Project Director of NHAI, states that they have approved the proposed design for the tunnel. The NHAI expects to begin construction in August. The initial proposal for tunnel construction would have incurred significant costs, leading to an alternative arrangement prioritizing passenger safety.
Meeting and Approval
In a meeting held last September in Bhubaneswar, the state government and NHAI officials discussed the issue. The district administration’s proposal was finalized, leading to the approval of a new design by a team from IIT Bhubaneswar, along with another institution.
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Proposed Construction Details
The plan calls for the construction of a concrete tunnel or covered passage with bright lighting along a 300-meter dangerous section in front of Lakshmidunguri Hill that will extend to the Mahanadi bridge. The project’s estimated cost is ₹35 crore. Once implemented, this project aims to provide a permanent solution to the problem of landslides on the highway.
Traffic and Safety Issues
This section of the highway, which runs between Sambalpur and Burla, connects Kolkata, Mumbai, Raipur, and southern India, and sees thousands of vehicles each day. The previous construction by Ashoka Buildcon Company involved cutting the hill recklessly, resulting in frequent landslides and disrupting traffic flow. Since the start of the rainy season, a diversion for vehicle movement has been created, resulting in accidents, including a recent incident involving a patient being transported from Deogarh to Burla Hospital, which killed three people. Additionally, a Tata Power employee died in a bike accident on this stretch.
