Overseas geological experts will find solution for landslide incidents on Mumbai-Pune Expressway

To avert frequent incidents of landslides on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the Maharashtra government has decided to take the help of geological experts from Australia and Switzerland.

Public Works Department (PWD) minister Eknath Shinde said that the Australian geological team had recently visited the site where the landslide had occurred, killing three people and disrupting traffic for several hours. "One more expert's team from Switzerland is likely to come to inspect the site. This team will use laser technology and submit a report. We want concrete and permanent solutions to this problem," said Shinde.

The minister further said that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) had studied these areas. "They say continuous percolation of rainwater in the gaps between bolders damages and weakens particular portions, resulting in landslides. We have asked them to divert this water so that the solid portion of these areas is not weakened easily. Besides, we have instructed them to put safety steel nets and spacings so that, in future, incidents of landslides and rolling of bolders are prevented. We have also told them to create a mechanism to keep vigil on this area and immediately bring to notice if some cracks develop," Shinde added.

The minister further said that the government was going to install censors at sensitive spots where people who are travelling would get alerts. "We have also decided to increase the length of Aadoshi tunnel by making it 100 metre," he said.