Joshimath Landslide Raises Doubts Over Badrinath Yatra, But BRO Gives Highway Clean Chit Despite Damage
The Badrinath National Highway, which was recently impacted by a landslide in Joshimath, has been deemed safe for the Badrinath Yatra by the Border Roads Organization (BRO). Following the incident, the BRO has taken necessary measures to repair the cracks on the highway and ensure the required security arrangements are in place. As a result of their efforts, the highway is now fully prepared for the yatra and traffic is moving smoothly.
The Char Dham Yatra is scheduled to commence in the last week of April in the state. However, concerns arose over the Badrinath Yatra after the Joshimath landslide resulted in cracks along the highway at multiple points. This led to growing doubts about the feasibility of the yatra. The government, along with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, expressed their worries and urged the Border Roads Organization (BRO) to take urgent and swift action to repair the road. In response, the BRO worked tirelessly to improve the condition of the road, ensuring that the yatra can proceed as planned.
According to Colonel Manish Kapil, the Commander of BRO in Joshimath, all the cracks that had appeared on the highway have been effectively addressed with the use of sand material and cement. In addition, walls have been constructed along both sides of the highway to reinforce certain areas that required filling work. The BRO has taken these necessary steps to ensure the safety of the highway, allowing for smooth and secure passage for the upcoming Badrinath Yatra.
The BRO has conducted systematic repairs on the highway by filling the subsidence areas and leveling the surface to address any damage caused by the recent landslide in Joshimath. As a result, the highway has been fully restored to its previous condition, with no further issues reported. Traffic is currently moving seamlessly along the highway, indicating that the necessary measures taken by the BRO have effectively ensured the safety and security of the road.
The highway had sunk at these places
The highway between Joshimath and Marwari had experienced significant damage, with multiple areas along the road suffering from sinking and large cracks. The disruptions were particularly severe in four locations – near the BRO office, near JP Colony, as well as the upper and lower sides of the task force headquarters. These incidents were largely caused by landslides, which had led to disruptions in vehicular movement along the affected areas of the highway.
The journey from Helang to Joshimath has also become easy.
In addition to repairing the damaged highway, the BRO has also completed a 10 kilometer widening project on the Helang to Joshimath route. This improvement was necessary due to the frequent traffic jams that would occur on this section of the journey. The BRO achieved this by cutting into the hillsides to widen the highway, and is now preparing to pave the road with asphalt. Officials from the BRO have confirmed that the highway will be fully repaired and ready for use before the start of the journey. These efforts have been made to ensure that the Badrinath Yatra can proceed safely and smoothly, providing travelers with a hassle-free experience.
