Maharashtra officials to get landslide lessons in Alps

The debt-ridden Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) plans to take its three officials on a Swiss sojourn to learn a thing or two on how to mitigate the impact of frequent rock fall or landslides on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The trio will tentatively visit Switzerland from August 5 to 11.

The three officials include joint managing director, chief engineer and superintendent engineer of MSRDC. The MSRDC officials said that since Switzerland is a hilly country, rock fall mitigation measures are practiced extensively there. It will be worthwhile for them to study there. Several requirements like nets, bolts to avert landslides are also procured or manufactured in Switzerland.

"Our study will help us understand the situation better way," said an MSRDC official. The MSRDC has a debt of Rs 3,500 crore. Radheshyam Mopalwar, managing director, MSRDC, said, "We are not spending on the study tour. It is part of the contract that was awarded to the contractor."

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that today everything is available on social media. "The physical presence is not necessary, it can be done virtually. The Switzerland tour is like a trip in the name of study tour."

Why Switzerland

Team includes MSRDC’s joint managing director, chief engineer and superintendent engineer. As Switzerland is a hilly country, rock fall mitigation measures are practiced extensively there.