Katra, Jammu & Kashmir: THDC India Limited (THDCIL) has entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to conduct comprehensive slope stability studies along the pilgrimage route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan in Jammu & Kashmir. The MoU was signed on Tuesday at the Shrine Board’s Central Office in Katra, with the aim to ensure the long-term safety and resilience of the route through advanced geotechnical and geophysical investigations.
The agreement marks a significant step towards enhancing the safety of the yatra route by employing modern slope stabilization measures to prevent landslides and other geological hazards. THDCIL, a premier Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power, brings its vast expertise in hydropower development, geotechnical consultancy, and landslide mitigation, particularly in the challenging Himalayan region.
THDCIL’s Chairman and Managing Director, R.K. Vishnoi, highlighted the company’s role in supporting national development and infrastructure resilience in geologically sensitive areas. Director (Personnel) Shallinder Singh noted that THDCIL has been working as the Shrine Board’s technical consultant since 2011 and reiterated that while the GSI will conduct geological investigations, THDCIL will focus on technical assessments and design interventions.
With a strong track record, including over 430 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for landslide mitigation across India and engineering services provided to the Royal Government of Bhutan, THDCIL has proven itself as a leader in infrastructure safety.
The MoU was signed by Alok Kumar Maurya, IFS, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board; Dr. Niraj Agrawal, GM, Design (Civil-II) at THDCIL; and Sanjiv Kumar, Deputy Director General of GSI (NR), along with senior officials from the three organizations.
This partnership further reinforces THDCIL’s critical role in improving infrastructure safety and supporting pilgrimage and tourism activities in the region, contributing to a safer and more resilient journey for pilgrims visiting the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi temple.
