Project
Kedarnath shrine, at a height of 3,583 metres, is one of the major and holiest shrines of Lord Shiva. It is located in the Garhwal mountains near the Mandakini river in Uttarakhand.

What makes this place unique is that it suffers extreme weather conditions, making the temple accessible only during the months of April to November. The temple is not easily accessible by road and can be reached after a 14km uphill trek.

The Kedarnath Valley has always been affected by soil erosion due to weather conditions. This erosion was exacerbated by unprecedented flash floods in June 2013. Landslides and mudslides caused by a devastating cloudburst ravaged the area.

The shrine was closed to pilgrims for a year. This was the time needed to clear the debris and to re-establish ground stability of the area before allowing pilgrims through again. The government had a challenging task to stabilise the ground in the area within a very short time with the help of innovative and proven solutions.

There was a dire need for a walking trail/access road from the helipad to the temple. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering was responsible for providing this emergency solution. The deadline for achieving this was non-negotiable owing to the limited season.

The orthodox approach
Since the sub-soil was of very low CBR, the traditional method would have been to construct a road with a soling of cobbles and good quality aggregates – an extremely tedious task.

Strata’s innovative solution
Keeping in mind the need for timely completion and the need for providing a quality solution notwithstanding the low CBR and poor quality soil, StrataWeb geocells were recommended. StrataWeb geocell panels were transported to the nearest base and were airlifted to Kedarnath.

Construction
StrataWeb SW 356-150 geocells were used for constructing the access road and pavement from the helipad to the temple. The StrataWeb geocells were infilled with local infill material (GSB). This was a more practical and long-term solution under the circumstances since StrataWeb geocells are an effective way to reduce ruts along the road and provide smooth conduct of traffic even in adverse weather conditions.

Value addition to customers
• Rapid installation
• Cost effective
• No need of any skilled person
• Proven emergency solution for challenging terrains
• Aesthetically pleasing.

Technical drawing
StrataWeb geocell SW 356-150 is placed in the subbase and infilled with locally available granular material (GSB). Application of StrataWeb geocell for load support eliminated the requirement of heavy boulders.

About Strata
Strata Geosystems (India) Pvt Ltd is one of the market leaders in the geosynthetic segment for soil reinforcement solutions in India and across the globe. It was established in 2004, in partnership with Strata Systems Inc., USA – a two-decade veteran in geosynthetics.

Strata provides end-to-end solutions for soil reinforcement challenges including supply, design, and construction with our world renowned StrataGrid (geogrid) and StrataWeb (geocells).

The company’s manufacturing plants are ISO certified and our products have the CE mark. In addition, all testing is conducted in GAI-LAP accredited labs across the U.S., U.K., and India. They are also a proud member of the International Geotechnical Society (IGS) promoting advancements in geosynthetics.

To learn more about Strata Geosystems, visit www.strataindia.com