New Delhi: As the monsoon season advances across India, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has undertaken a series of proactive measures to address water logging and ensure emergency response on National Highways. These efforts aim to provide a seamless and safe travel experience for highway users despite the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and flooding.
NHAI is employing a multi-pronged strategy to tackle water logging and flood situations, working closely with other executing agencies, local authorities, and administrative bodies. This coordination ensures the swift mobilization of machinery and manpower to areas affected by floods or landslides. To enhance disaster preparedness, NHAI is mapping the availability of key machinery for timely deployment.
To prevent water logging on National Highways, NHAI, in collaboration with state irrigation departments, is conducting joint inspections to ensure that the flow of running channels or streams is not obstructed by newly constructed highways. Recently, a special drive was conducted on the Delhi-Karta Expressway and other projects, emphasizing this collaborative approach.
In urban areas, NHAI is making adequate pumping arrangements in sections prone to water logging. The deployment of Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) and the Rajmaargyatra app will provide real-time information to highway users about any hindrances on their routes, enhancing the overall travel experience.
In hilly regions, dedicated Emergency Response Teams equipped with sufficient manpower and machinery have been mobilized at landslide-prone sites in close coordination with district administrations. These teams will clear debris from highways promptly, ensuring 24×7 connectivity and safe traffic movement. Temporary barriers and warning signs have been installed at landslide-prone areas to facilitate safe travel.
NHAI is identifying vulnerable locations, such as flood, landslide, and rockfall-prone areas, as well as sinking zones. Officials are inspecting structures with a history of flooding to identify damage to bridge abutments and piers. Warning signs are being installed at these locations to caution road users. In cases where highways may be blocked due to significant landslides, alternative diversion plans have been developed in collaboration with district administrations. Additionally, geotechnical instrumentation, including real-time monitoring at select vulnerable slopes and tunnels, is being implemented as a pilot project.