Following a fresh landslide on Monday, restoration efforts at Kalinga Ghat, a portion of NH-157 connecting the Ganjam and Kandhamal districts, have been impeded, an official reported.
The stretch had already suffered extensive damage from massive landslides on September 16.
According to National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) chief construction engineer Bankim Chandra Panda, who was present at the site to monitor the repair work, fresh rainfall caused several large rocks to tumble down the slopes, while others remain in a dangerously unstable position. He stated that the current situation is dire and has brought the repair work to a halt.
“Even though we deployed heavy equipment for repair to restore traffic movement temporarily, work can’t progress now,” he said, adding the fresh landslide was a setback for the restoration work.
He further stated that given the heavy rain, NHAI could not provide an estimated date for the completion of the road. If the rain continues for several more days, the temporary road construction will face further delays.
The highway is a crucial link between Ganjam and Kandhamal districts. The Kandhamal district administration has closed the section following the landslides that damaged the road.
As a result, passenger buses from Berhampur are now taking a longer route via either Daringbadi Road to reach Phulbani or Dasapalla in Nayagarh district, according to officials.
