Single lane traffic resumes on Munnar Gap road after 3-day ban

Idukki: After a three-day ban on traffic through the Devikulam Gap road near Munnar due to a landslide on Friday, one-lane traffic was reinstated Monday morning after partly clearing the debris comprising a huge amount of earth and embedded rocks.

According to National Highway Authority of India officials, a wing of state government is in charge of the Gap road; the remaining debris could be removed only after the rains fully subside and the soil becomes dry on the hill slope, they said.

Officials added that vehicles from either side are moving alternatively on the single lane as workers direct  one-lane traffic. If it is raining heavily, night traffic will be banned, they added.

Engineers in charge of the stretch said considering the occurrence of repeated landslides during monsoon on the road the NHAI officials concerned have placed a proposal before the authority to install an electronic signalling system by planting electronic nodes on the adjacent hill slopes.

Officials explained the system will send out signals a few minutes before a landslide if there is any movement in the rearth on the slopes of the hill along the Gap road; these signals will reach the control room. Alarm lights and sirens will be set up to warn vehicles.

Officials further noted that NIT Kozhikode had conducted studies on the Gap Road where there have been at least 10 landslides since 2017 after the blasting of rocks for road widening works on the rocky hills adjacent to the Gap road.

NIT has suggested grouting of joints on the slopes through which rainwater could percolate. The plan is to implement both proposals to avoid untoward incidents, they added.