Title - Konkan Railway gears up for monsoon

MUMBAI: Konkan Railway (KR) has spent about Rs 3 crore for the pre-cautionary pre-monsoon safety measures during the current year to ensure safety and punctuality in running of trains during heavy rains.

The intensity of rainfall is very high on KR region. The annual average rainfall is 3500 - 4500mm with intensity of rainfall frequently exceeding 80mm per hour. Landslides had occurred during monsoon 2011 on 17th June, 17th July and 30th August' 2011. The traffic was interrupted for 2 days, 4 days and 1 day respectively during the above mentioned period.

KR spokesperson said, "Easing of slopes by providing berms and flattening of deep cuttings slopes, providing RCC retaining wall and Gabion wall, micro piling & soil nailing, construction of side drains and catch water drain lining etc has been carried out to prevent disruptions."

KR had carried out intensive works at Nivsar Station yard and Pomendi cutting - the two vulnerable spots. He said, "We have successfully tackled the problem of Ground settlement at Nivsar Station Yard which was a bottle neck in smooth running of traffic."

At Pomendi cutting, which is one of the vulnerable cutting in Ratnagiri region, geo tech safety works were carried out that included widening of the deep cutting slopes by providing berms, concrete lined Catch water drains, Berm water drains, cross drains etc. for making the slopes stable were carried out as per the recommendation of technical expert committee."

KR has also made provision for monsoon patrolling (block section to block section) during monsoon, Monsoon patrolling (block section to block section) is done during monsoons and deputing watchmen at vulnerable locations i.e in cuttings, bridges and embankments."