Project DANTAK cut through the most difficult part of Damchu-Chhukha bypass; a hard rock cliff, finally connecting the road.
“Since the site was not accessible directly, we had to take the longer route. Also, instead of blasting twice a day, we did it thrice till 5 PM. A single blast can only break over two feet of the rock,” said a DANTAK’s worker, Gopal Namtaz.
The project officials said the cliff, apart from consuming time, also posed high risks to the workers.
“They were working under hazardous conditions. The rocks were fractured and loosened and the height of cut was so high,” said DANTAK’s Officer Commandant, Major Ankur Mahajan.
The loosened rocks, the Major said, posed threat to the workers.
The Chief Engineer of Project DANTAK, PKG Mishra said although the bypass officially opens by December, next year, they are expecting to finish the work six months before the deadline.
“The criticality lies of course in addition to what we are working are the two bridges, one 75 metres and another 145 metres bridge which are under construction.”
The Damchu-Chhukha double lane road construction began in March 2010. Until now, of the 29.2 kilometres, 23 is complete.
The project is worth over Nu 2 B.
