NHIDCL, NIT Sikkim sign MoU to address road issues

KUNAL RAI

GANGTOK,: A memorandum of understanding has been signed between National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and National Institute of Technology (NIT) Sikkim to facilitate collaborations on various activities of common interest such as sharing knowledge on innovative ideas and technologies in the field of highway engineering and others.
The signatories for the signing of the MoU on Friday at Gangtok were NHIDCL managing director Chanchal Kumar and NIT Sikkim director Mahesh Chandra Govil.
Addressing media, the NHIDCL managing director said, “Today we have signed a MoU with NIT Sikkim. NHIDCL has been given a mandate for construction and development of road infrastructure in the Northeastern States including hilly and border terrain like J&K, Ladakh and Uttarakhand but these areas have their own unique problems like sinking zones, slides and other. To rectify these persisting problems there is a requirement of slope stabilization, slop protection initiatives. There are stretches along the highway where annually the road sinks which later the officials and engineers do refill and mend but it continues. We feel there is a problem within the formation itself which requires scientific and technological intervention considering permanent solution. The objective of this MoU is to utilize the technological expertise of the NIT Sikkim in solving such problem faced by NHIDCL during the course of work along with to utilize new, global technologies in mitigating such issues.”
Kumar said NHIDCL would be sharing constraints faced during road construction in Sikkim and North Bengal area with the NIT Sikkim for their expert advices. On the other hand, we will provide platform, opportunity to the students of NIT Sikkim to work with NHIDCL and its projects so that they avail practical knowledge and expertise, he added.
The NIT Sikkim director said the MoU will provide impetus to the students of the institute to avail practical knowledge and expertise. “The MoU will help the students pursuing Civil Engineering in the institute as we were of the opinion of sending our students to be part of real projects,” he added.
The purpose of the MoU is to establish the basis of collaboration between both the parties so that the NHIDCL and NIT Sikkim can take up various activities of common interest and facilitate or undertake dissertation of technology upgrades in planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance for highway development.
The MoU provides a formal basis for initiating interaction between NHIDCL and NIT Sikkim. Each activity will be governed by its specific terms and conditions as mentioned in the respective proposals and agreed to by.
The collaboration of NHIDCL and NIT Sikkim will strengthen research and development activities in highway sector is expected to facilitate in conducting and cooperating research, development and technical assistance in the areas of development of highway sector, it was informed.