SLBC Tunnel Work Likely to Restart in a Month

Hyderabad: The resumption of work at the SLBC tunnel project which was stopped after the February accident when a portion of the tunnel collapsed, is expected to begin in a month with the irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy making it clear to the contractor, JP Associates, that they should consult with the project engineers and provide a timeline indicating when work will recommence.

The minister’s directive came at a meeting on Thursday with representatives of the contractor and senior irrigation department officials at the Secretariat. The contracting agency, it is learnt, was reluctant to agree to opening an escrow account through which payments for the work done would be released but that it was made clear to them that they must abide by the agreements and and begin work on restarting the project. It was also learnt that 70 per cent of the costs incurred would be paid as per the terms of the agreement and that the company should also submit weekly progress reports.

It is learnt that the National Geophysical Research Institute, which conducted a heliborne survey along the tunnel alignment and submitted its report to the government, will make a presentation of its findings to the minister and department officials next week.

Thursday meeting was attended, among others, by principal secretary irrigation Rahul Bojja, special secretary Prashant Jeevan Patil, former director general of Border Roads Organisation and advisor to the irrigation department Lt Gen Harpal Singh, tunnelling expert Col. Parikshit Mehra also from BRO and on deputation to the department.

With nine more kilometres of the 44-km-long tunnel still to be dug using the drill and blast method, the government had earlier set January 2028 for completion of all the remaining works. Once the NGRI report is discussed in detail, plans will be made for restarting the work keeping in mind all the safety aspects, sources said.