BRO inducts hi-tech snow cutting machines in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar/Jammu: A lot of snow gathers on the roads and highways in the Kashmir Valley every winter, in order to clear all of it, the Border Roads Organisation has inducted hi-tech snow clearance and cutting machines that clear one kilometer of snow in just three hours, officials said.

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Snowfall in winter blocks important strategic roads including the Srinagar-Leh, Jammu-Srinagar, Gurez-Bandipora and Kupwara-Karnah highways which takes a lot of time for clearance, they said.

To deal with the problem, seven high-tech snow cutter FRESIA machines have been purchased from Italy for swift snow cutting and clearance of these important highways and passes.

BRO official said they have received four of the machines and the rest will be imported soon.

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Officials said new machines have been put to use at Jawahar tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Tregbal in Bandipora-Gurez road, Nowgam in Handwara and Sadhna Pass in Tanghdar, Kupwara.

"These machines are state-of-the-art snow clearance equipment which will make clearance of highways easier and swift. With tremendous speed, these new machines can operate at an altitude of even 18500 ft and above and have the capability of clearing 5000 tons of snow per hour, BRO officials said.

The machines can clear approximately 1.5 meter high and 300 meter long accumulated snow in just an hour. About one kilometer of the snow covered road will be cleared by the equipment in just three to four hours.

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