Third party to assess strata of Dhalli road

A third-party agency will reassess the strata of the four-lane road stretch in the suburbs of Shimla where a five-storeyed building had collapsed a few days ago. Gawar construction company, which is constructing this particular road stretch, has hired the agency through the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the reassessment of the Shakrala village-Dhalli road stretch.

“The agency will review our design and reassess the entire stretch to identify vulnerable spots. Based on their findings, we will take the additional protection measures if required,” said Kuldeep Gujral, Project Manager of the construction company.

Gujral said the company would resume the construction work on the four-lane project after the company submits its report. “We had stopped excavation before the onset of monsoon. Currently, only the protection work is going on. The agency is likely to complete a review within a month. Thereafter, we will resume the work,” he added.

Besides, the company has also sent a proposal to the NHAI to acquire additional land (right of way) along the alignment. Gujral said, “Currently, we have 39 m wide land for the construction of four lanes. We have sent a proposal for acquiring additional land so that we can work further away from the human habitation.”

He said that as a relief measure, the company had rented a house for the owner of the house that had collapsed at Bhattakuffer. “A committee will determine the compensation to be paid her,” he added.