PWD Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale Conducts On-site Inspection Following Landslide Near Connecting Link Entry Point
by Prashant Kapadia/NHN
Mumbai, July 6: Following the landslide near the entry point of the Mumbai–Pune Connecting Link project, Public Works Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale visited the site today to assess the situation firsthand. Senior officials of MSRDC, the police administration, and officers from the concerned departments were present during the inspection.
Speaking to the media after the visit, Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale said that continuous heavy rainfall over the past few days caused a sudden change in the flow of water, resulting in a large quantity of rocks and soil sliding down the slope.
He clarified that the Connecting Link tunnel has not suffered any damage due to the incident. However, a portion of the shotcrete protective slab and the retaining wall near the entry point collapsed and fell onto the roadway.
The Minister further stated that due to the ongoing heavy rainfall and dense fog, it is currently not possible to accurately assess the condition at the top of the hill. A detailed technical inspection will be carried out by experts once the weather improves. Based on the findings, the exact cause of the change in water flow will be determined, and permanent measures will be planned to prevent such incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the work of clearing the fallen slab and debris from the road is being carried out on a war footing, and the concerned agencies have been instructed to complete the operation at the earliest.
The final decision on reopening the road to traffic will be taken only after a joint inspection and safety assessment by the Police Department and MSRDC. The safety of citizens will remain the highest priority while taking all further decisions, Minister Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale emphasized