Breakthrough success on Himalayan mountain tunnel that suffered 2023 collapse

The Barkot-Silkyara Bend Tunnel Project routes the NH-134 national highway through a two-lane, uni-directional tunnel. It connects Dharasu and Yamunotri and reduces travel time from one hour to just five minutes.

The tunnel hit the headlines in November 2023 when part of it collapsed, trapping 41 workers. All were rescued 17 days later. On the same day as the tunnel breakthrough, the newly built Baba Baukhnag temple was also consecrated, fulfilling a pledge made by Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, the chief minister of Uttarakhand at the time of the collapse.

The chief minister was present at the tunnel breakthrough, alongside Shri Ajay Tamta, India’s minister of state, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The project is being overseen by Rodic Consultants, an engineering and digital infrastructure consulting company, which serves as the construction supervision consultant.

It has supervised construction activities and advised India’s National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and the contractor on design finalisation, safety measures, and engineering standards.

It also oversaw on-site laboratory testing for cement, concrete, and aggregates, and conducted field tests for sprayed concrete and rock bolts. Rodic introduced a digital Request for Inspection (RFI) system and digitalised project data management on the project.

Speaking about the construction milestone, Shri Raj Kumar, chairman and managing director of Rodic Consultants, said, “We are proud to have played a crucial role in the successful breakthrough of the Barkot–Silkyara Bend Tunnel. As the construction supervision consultant, Rodic has ensured the highest standards of engineering excellence, quality assurance, and safety at every stage of construction…We thank the Government of India, NHIDCL, and our project partners for their trust and collaboration throughout this journey.”

The project, which in 2018 was put at ₹1,383.78 crore (US$166 million), now enters its final stages, including roadwork and the installation of electrical and mechanical systems.