PWD Executive Engineers learn nitty-gritty of slope protection work on Parwanoo-Kaithlighat road
Use of new steel grid system, which is an innovative system for rock fall mitigation and slope consolidation work, demonstrated
The Shimla unit of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) initiated a two-day exposure visit on Thursday to apprise the Executive Engineers (XENs) of the Public Works Department (PWD) of the nitty-gritty of slope protection measures underway on the Parwanoo-Kaithlighat stretch of the National Highway-5.
The XENs from various zones like Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Hamirpur visited several sites like Datiyar, Jabli, Chakki Mor and Sanawara and inspected the slope protection work being undertaken on the bare slopes, which were exposed due to the widening of the highway.
This protection work, initiated in September 2024, was being executed at 44 sites on the 61-km Parwanoo-Kaithlighat highway stretch at a cost of Rs 100.45 crore. While the work has been completed at 37 sites, the remaining work is likely to be completed in the next few months.
NHAI Site Engineer Dinesh Punia, consultants and the engineers of executing agencies SRK Contractors Limited and Bharat Constructions demonstrated technologies utilised to stabilise slopes like the use of geo synthetic wire mesh and hydro mulching measures with nails of requisite capacity. The use of new steel grid system, which is an innovative system for rock fall mitigation and slope consolidation work, was also demonstrated. A wire mesh is used in conjunction with anchor plates, specific U bolts and mesh connectors to achieve the optimum slope protection.
Punia said, “Other measures like rhomboidal wire rope panelling are also being utilised as rock fall protection works at places where high strength and puncture resistance at very low strain is required. Additionally, mono-oriented reinforced mesh is also being used, besides self-drilling anchors.”
The engineers elicited interest in the material used to contain the erosion of slopes. Since this is the first such venture being undertaken in the state, the PWD officials approached the NHAI to apprise their engineers about this novel technique that could prove productive in containing hill erosion on the roads maintained by the state.
