New Delhi: Ace Mandarin, Dr.Krishan Kumar has taken over as Managing Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) on 14 February, 2024.
2002 Batch IAS Dr.Kumar is the youngest Managing Director of NHIDCL, the Central PSU engaged in building, operating and maintaining National Highways, bridges, tunnels and Strategic Roads in parts of the country, which share international borders.
Dr.Kumar, known for his expertise in building quality infrastructure as Secretary Works, Odisha, Smart City Chief of Bhubaneswar and Vice Chairman BDA and Chief Administrator Shree Jagannatha Temple Administration, will be implementing projects worth One Lakh Crore by NHIDCL, pointed out a senior official.
Honest, Hardworking and No-Nonsense Administrator, Dr.Kumar after joining the crucial national infrastructure development assignment, took a review with the senior officials of NHIDCL.
NHIDCL is taking up several mega projects including the Char Dham Project, which is a significant infrastructure initiative in India aimed at improving connectivity and accessibility to four major pilgrimage sites in the Himalayan region, collectively known as the Char Dham.
The project focuses on enhancing the road network leading to the sacred shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, which hold immense religious and cultural significance for Hindus. The project is estimated to cost Rs 12,000 crore.
Silkyara Bend- Barkot Tunnel project – On 12 November 2023, whilst under construction, a section of the Silkyara Bend–Barkot tunnel collapsed, resulting trap of 41 construction workers inside.
After 16 days of consistent efforts on 28 November 2023, the trapped workers were safely rescued with the help of “rat-hole” minors. This has brought to fore challenges of construction of large scale infrastructure projects in India. NHIDCL, agency taking up this project will be required to transform itself to handle such mega infrastructure projects.
Dr.Kumar as a knowledgeable mandarin on disaster management, his expertise will be an added advantage for NHIDCL in handling such issues, said the senior official.
NHIDCL is implementing Zojila Tunnel Project, which is an under-construction 14.2 km long, 2 lane road tunnel at the height of 11,575 feet (3,528 m) above sea level which passes under the Zojila pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal of Kashmir (J&K) and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh.
In a strategic push to enhance connectivity and strengthen border infrastructure, India is undertaking the ambitious Zojila Tunnel project near the China border.
Nestled amidst the rugged terrain of the Himalayas, the tunnel aims to provide year-round access to the army and residents between Srinagar & Leh. This is the highest tunnel project being taken up in India at a cost of more than Rs.8000 crores.
Assam Meghalaya Bridge Project -19.28 Kilometer(KM) long 4-Lane Bridge over River Brahmaputra between Dhubri (on North Bank, Assam) and Phulbari (on south Bank, Meghalaya) on NH-127B, is the longest bridge being constructed in India.
NHIDCL is taking up National Highways Projects in 13 strategically important States & UTs of Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, West Bengal, Tripura and Uttarakhand.
