Bhubaneswar: An expert team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi will investigate recent landslides that disrupted traffic along the Kalinga Ghat stretch of NH-157 in Kandhamal district and recommend long-term stability measures, officials said on Sunday.The decision was announced during a site visit by works department principal secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh, who inspected two landslide-prone locations in the ghat section following a recent spell of heavy rain. Kalinga Ghat is currently closed for vehicular movement because of recent landslides.Officials said IIT team will carry out detailed geographical and slope stability studies at Km 86.380 and Km 86.675, the two locations severely impacted by landslides. Experts will examine causes of slope failures and suggest permanent engineering interventions to prevent similar incidents in future, sources said.Based on IIT team’s findings and recommendations, the state govt will undertake reconstruction and road restoration works in affected stretches. During the inspection, Singh directed officials to launch emergency safety measures on priority. He asked authorities to immediately remove loose rocks, unstable soil and other debris. These are posing risks to commuters. Singh asked officials to ensure that road safety remains the foremost priority.The principal secretary also instructed officials not to allow vehicular movement through unsafe sections until adequate protective measures are in place.At one of the affected locations, temporary arrangements are being made to facilitate controlled single-lane traffic. Officials said road safety works, including traffic control and channelisation over a stretch of around 400 metres on either side of the landslide zone, will be completed before reopening the route.