In a significant development aimed at enhancing the safety and long-term sustainability of the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route, THDC India Limited (THDCIL), a premier Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power, has signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The MoU was formally signed on April 8, 2025, at the Central Office of the Shrine Board in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir.
This collaboration is focused on conducting an extensive Slope Stability Study along the Yatra route leading to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, which attracts millions of pilgrims annually. The study will include detailed geotechnical and geophysical investigations, design of advanced slope stabilization measures, and long-term resilience planning for the track that winds through the challenging Himalayan terrain.
Chairman and Managing Director of THDCIL, Shri R.K. Vishnoi, emphasized the organization’s commitment to delivering engineering excellence and supporting the national agenda of infrastructure resilience, especially in ecologically fragile and geologically vulnerable areas. He highlighted that THDCIL, known for its leadership in the Hydro Energy sector, has been consistently providing high-end engineering solutions including landslide mitigation, slope stabilization, and geotechnical consultancy across India and abroad.
Shri Vishnoi noted that Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is a symbol of deep spiritual faith in the country, and ensuring the safety of pilgrims is of paramount importance. Through this MoU, THDCIL will leverage its technical know-how and experience in the Himalayan geology to help safeguard one of the most sacred pilgrimage routes in India.
Present at the signing ceremony were several dignitaries including Shri Anshul Garg, IAS, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, and Shri Shallinder Singh, Director (Personnel), THDCIL. Shri Singh reiterated THDCIL’s longstanding role as the Technical Consultant to the Shrine Board since 2011, which reflects the institution’s trust in the organization’s capabilities. Under this MoU, while GSI will undertake comprehensive geological investigations, THDCIL will focus on geotechnical studies and engineering interventions to prevent landslides and improve terrain stability.
THDCIL’s Consultancy Division has so far prepared over 430 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) related to landslide mitigation and slope stability, spanning assignments for the Uttarakhand government, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and various locations including Pune, Shillong, and across Jammu & Kashmir.
Director (Technical) of THDCIL, Shri Bhupender Gupta, described the MoU as another milestone in the company’s legacy of engineering excellence and public service. He stated that THDCIL’s deep-rooted capabilities in hydroelectric engineering and geotechnical disciplines make it a critical player in preserving the integrity of infrastructure in sensitive terrains. Notable past projects include slope stabilization works at the Varunavat Parvat in Uttarkashi and prior efforts for the Vaishno Devi track.
Director (Personnel) Shri Shallinder Singh also highlighted THDCIL’s current and ongoing contributions to projects that impact lives and infrastructure across the region. The company has been actively engaged in securing vital transportation links in areas such as Doda, Ramban-Srinagar, Patnitop, Kishtwar, and Chenani through geotechnical interventions. THDCIL is also supporting the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board with consultancy services, further reinforcing its role as a silent yet vital contributor to the safety and development of India’s hill states.
The MoU was signed by Shri Alok Kumar Maurya, IFS, Additional CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Dr. Niraj Agrawal, General Manager, Design (Civil-II) of THDCIL; and Shri Sanjiv Kumar, Deputy Director General, GSI (Northern Region). Other attendees included Shri Praveen Kumar, Director, GSI Jammu; Shri Ravinder Kaul, Manager, SMVDSB; Shri Ishan Bhushan, Assistant Manager (Corporate Communication), THDCIL; and Shri Amninder Singh Nayyar, Geotechnical Engineer, THDCIL.
This collaboration is expected to play a critical role in protecting the pilgrimage corridor and ensuring uninterrupted access for devotees year-round, while also setting a benchmark for future engineering partnerships in other sensitive locations across the country.
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