MSRDC starts safety audit of Samruddhi Expressway Kasara Ghat stretch
Following a recent landslide on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s Connecting Link, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has initiated a safety audit and monitoring of the Kasara Ghat section, located between Igatpuri and Kasara on the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway. The agency aims to implement preventive measures to secure the terrain and prevent potential landslide incidents along this critical stretch.
The monitoring process will guide the execution of safety measures, which include removing loose boulders and strengthening loose soil using a methodology called soil nailing. Depending on specific site requirements, the MSRDC may also erect retaining walls, construct additional drainage channels above the tunnels, and plant vegetation to anchor loose earth.
The Samruddhi Expressway features two tunnels between Igatpuri and Kasara with a cumulative length of 13.1 kilometres, which are essential for connecting Mumbai with the rest of Maharashtra. One of these tunnels is 7.78 kilometres long and 17.61 metres wide, making it the second widest tunnel in the state.
MSRDC officials noted that the terrain and topography of the Kasara Ghat section closely resemble those of the Khandala Ghat on the Connecting Link, as both Igatpuri and Khandala are part of the Sahyadri range. The expressway section between Igatpuri and Shirdi features a similar combination of bridges and tunnels.
Authorities warned that a landslide on the 701-kilometre expressway would create severe traffic challenges. If this portion of the expressway is closed, managing diverted traffic on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway would be difficult due to its steep gradient and limited width, potentially leading to kilometres of traffic snarls.
The safety audit was prompted by heavy monsoon rains that triggered a landslide at a tunnel opening on the Connecting Link, which closed the route for 18 hours. While no injuries were reported, the incident drew public criticism as the Rs 6,695-crore project had only been inaugurated in May.
Before the 76-kilometre Igatpuri-Amane stretch of the Samruddhi Expressway opened in June last year, crossing the Kasara Ghat took motorists at least an hour. The same journey now takes five to ten minutes. In addition to landslide prevention, the MSRDC plans to inspect the expressway to identify and repair sections showing signs of stress before they develop into potholes.
