Landslides continue to disrupt life in Uttarakhand's hill regions, particularly during the monsoon season, causing road blockages and creating challenges for Chardham pilgrims. These frequent occurrences not only inconvenience travellers but also pose a significant threat to human lives, officials said.

Active landslide zones on the Gangotri and Yamunotri highways have remained a persistent issue for both local residents and pilgrims. In response, authorities have adopted advanced Australian rock bolt technology to tackle these hazardous zones effectively, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Commander Vivek Srivastava said.

The technology, currently being used to treat active landslide zones in Raturisera and Bandarkot on the Gangotri highway in Uttarkashi district, has shown promising results in earlier applications. "The technology was previously used to treat the long-active landslide zones at Nalupani and Chungi Badethi along the same highway. The success at these points has encouraged authorities to implement it at other locations as well," Srivastava said.

According to Srivastava, the Australian rock bolt technology has proven to be 90 percent effective in preventing landslides. The process involves removing loose debris through soil nailing for soil-based areas and rock bolting in bedrock regions, thereby stabilizing the slopes.

The BRO official highlighted the success of this technique in the ongoing Chardham road widening project. "In the widening work under the Chardham road project, several landslide zones active for years have been successfully treated using this technology. The same approach is now being employed in Raturisera and Bandarkot," he said.

The total investment in these two locations is significant, with Rs 19.8 crore allocated for Raturisera and Rs 9.3 crore for Bandarkot. Srivastava noted that the landslide treatment work at both sites is targeted for completion by March next year.

With improved techniques like the Australian rock bolt technology, authorities hope to ensure safer travel for pilgrims and locals, reducing the risks posed by landslides along Uttarakhand's critical highways.