Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand):The Silkyara Tunnel construction project has reached a major milestone as officials have completed the construction of the first drift tunnel that will enable travel from the Silkyara end to the Barkot end, paving the way for debris removal and further execution of the project.
The tunnel, part of the Char Dham Road Project, made headlines last year when it collapsed on November 12 trapping 41 workers inside for 17 days. A massive rescue operation ensued, and the workers were safely extracted using 800 mm pipes inserted by an auger machine. At least 15 rathole miners were instrumental in completing the rescue operation. However, the debris remained uncleared, hindering construction progress.
Following the incident, the Central Government's Ministry of Road Transport granted permission to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to commence construction on January 23 this year. The NHIDCL began de-watering and proposed constructing three drift tunnels to facilitate debris removal under expert supervision.
The first drift tunnel, now completed, allows workers and engineers to enter the tunnel from the Silkyara end without hindrance. This breakthrough enabled the construction team to expedite the tunnel work, which had been restricted due to the collapse.