Tunneling projects in India

[anekho]

Fantastic thread, IU. Had no clue about any of these projects!

[achemsRaZor]

IU great thread. Those are some badass machines man. Exciting projects all. Did not realize that these were under execution across the country. I loved the pictures. Thanks for your effort in doing the research.

[Arhant]

Thanks IU. Deeply appreciate your efforts. Its quite educating. One wonders why our mainstream media doesn't bother to cover such projects the way these ought to be

[IndiansUnite]

Cheers everyone. A lot of hydro-electric projects have headrace tunnels that feed water to the turbines so there's a lot more to be covered on this thread besides water supply projects and road/rail ones.

Anidel - yeah something like that can be done I'll use that format for future posts.

[Euromast]

Government plans 11 tunnels on Pak, China borders

NEW DELHI: The Union government is planning to build 11 tunnels in the strategically important road stretches close to the Pakistan and China borders. Two more tunnels will be built in Uttarakhand to improve connectivity in the hilly state. These all-weather tunnels, which will be built by the Border Road Organization (BRO), would cover about 89km. These tunnels are expected to help rapid mobilization of troops and equipments besides providing better connectivity to local residents, officials said.

At a recent review meeting about the progress of road projects implemented by BRO, the road construction wing of the Army told the highways ministry officials that the feasibility studies of three projects are under progress. Two of them - the 12km Zojila and the 6.5km Z Morh tunnels - fall in Jammu and Kashmir and are crucial for connectivity between Srinagar and Leh. These two regions often remain cut off during winter as snow covers the highway connecting the regions. The third project has been planned near Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand.

The BRO would take up construction of two tunnels, totaling 25.4km on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road that would improve connectivity to Tawang region throughout the year. Supply of troops in Tawang region is being met by helicopters. Two more crucial tunnels have been planned in Sikkim, which are located only 19.3 and 24.6 km distance from the line of control (LoC).

Rangpo tunnel in Sikkim that will be only 800meter long, is also expected to be built soon.

Link

[Suncity]

Old videos

Work on India's longest road tunnel





India's longest rail tunnel work going on

[IndiansUnite]

This is supposed to be "Asia's deepest drinking water tunnel" acc to Construction Update:

July 11: Robbins TBM commences Deep Excavation in Mumbai

A Robbins 6.25 m (20.5 ft) diameter Main Beam TBM began boring India’s 8.3 km (5.2 mi) Mumbai Water Tunnel this June, and had bored over 320 m (1049.9 ft) as of July 4, 2012. Unity-IVRCL JV is the contractor for the basalt rock tunnel, which will alleviate Mumbai’s current leakage problems from its aging lines and provide inhabitants with a consistent flow of clean drinking water.

Due to the urban location of the tunnel, the TBM was launched from a 109 m (357 ft) deep shaft, and its launching sequence included an initial start-up excavation of 50 m (164 ft) with vital back-up decks connected to the TBM using cables. The first bore began March 30, 2012 and upon completion, the decks were lowered and a continuous conveyor system was installed for muck haulage and storage.

Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA) was used to assemble the main bearing, lube system, back-up decks and horizontal, vertical and stacker conveyors. OFTA saved the contractor both time and money by assembling the parts at the jobsite and eliminating pre-assembly at the manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China. The OFTA process took place at the shaft bottom in a 100 m (328 ft) long starter chamber and a 50 m (164 ft) long tail tunnel. TBM components were lowered into the shaft using mobile and gantry cranes.

Following the initial excavation, V.D. Sharma, Director of Operations at Unity Infrastructure said: “Robbins has made an outstanding effort during the excavation, without many difficulties, which speaks to their knowledge and team spirit.” Although the lack of conveyors during the initial bore was challenging, current advance rates are averaging 3.5 m (11.5 ft) per hour.

Difficult ground conditions are expected during excavation, including hard basalt rock, fractured ground and possible water inflows. In preparation, the TBM has been equipped with 482 mm (19 in) cutters and a probe drill. Rock support has been applied during the initial stretch of tunnel.

Once completed, the Mumbai Water Supply Tunnel will run between the Kapurbawdi and Bhandup areas. The tunnel will provide the city’s approximately 20.5 million residents with a reliable water supply, even during the seasonal monsoons that regularly contaminate Mumbai’s water resources.

Pictures from Tunnel Talk:


Cutterhead section descends the 109m working shaft


Assembled TBM ready for launch


Horizontal, vertical and stacker haulage conveyors


Partial OFTA saved time and money



TBM acceptance by Unity-IVRCL managers in Shanghai, China

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Construction of the Portal






Construction of the Access Tunnel







Construction of the Water Curtain Tunnel





Construction of the Cavern Heading







For more pictures click NIG & RICH

www.isprlindia.com/

[IndiansUnite]

July 17: Government approves Rs 6,429 crore road projects in 4 states including J&K

NEW DELHI: The government has approved eight highways projects worth Rs 6,429 crore in four states including the strategic Z-Morh tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir connecting Leh to Srinagar.

"Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee in its meeting last night has approved eight highways projects in four states - Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, mostly to be built under build, operate and transfer (BOT) toll mode," a Highways Ministry official told reporters.

These eight projects include 6.5 km long Z- Morh tunnel on Srinagar-Leh highway, the fourth strategic tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir to be built at a cost of Rs 773 crore, he said.

The tunnel would provide all-weather connectivity to the people of the Ladakh region, he added.

[IndiansUnite]

Terratec provided a micro TBM to construct a tunnel for a sewage project in Delhi:

Yamuna River Sewer Project
Year: 2012
Location: Delhi, India
Tunnel Length: 1,800m
Contractor: DS Construction
Project Owner: Delhi Jal Board
TBM Type: Slurry MTBM
Machine Diameter: 2.10m
Segment Lining: RC Pipes (1965/1600/2500)

Project Overview


- Not sure if this is from Delhi as the workers don't look desi enough

TERRATEC delivered a complete Tunnelling System composed of a Slurry MTBM, Slurry Transport System, Jacking Frame, Lubrication System and Separation Tank. In addition TERRATEC was contracted to provide the Engineers and Jacking Crew to assist the Contractor during the execution of the Tunnelling Works.

The contractor (DSC)'s website suggests that this part of a 11.2 km long sewage project:

Sewage Interceptor Projects

Project Location: Delhi
Project Type: Cash Contract
Project Capacity: 11.2 Kms
Project Owner: Delhi Jal Board
Contractor: DSC Engineering

In the month of July, DSC Engineering was awarded two projects by the Delhi Jal Board for the design, construction and maintenance of interceptor sewers along the Nafafgarh supplementary and Shahdara drains for the abatement of pollution in the Yamuna river. These innovative sewage interceptor projects worth Rs 414 crores have been awarded on a cash contract basis and include a maintenance period of 11 years. The project entails the installation of interceptor sewers of diameters 600 mm to 2400 mm using micro tunneling technology, as well as the design and construction of interceptor chambers and a sewage pumping station.

[IndiansUnite]

Aug 23 2011: AECOM wins India Rail Tunnel design contract

AECOM has been awarded a design and construction supervision contract for Tunnel no 1 to be built on the Jiribam to Tupul new railway line in the eastern state of Manipur, India. The project will be undertaken for the Government of India’s North Frontier Railway.



As part of the overall masterplan for development of infrastructure in north-eastern India, a rail link has been planned to connect all state capitals. Construction of the new lines is currently underway to connect the capitals of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya with 125km of broad gauge rail. The new rail link will pass through deeply forested and mountainous terrain, and will require a large number of tunnels and bridges.

The current project consists of a single 3km long tunnel.

The scope of the 24 month contract includes:

• Initial and detail design of tunnel support, lining, ventilation, tunnel illumination, drainage, safety and surveillance systems.
• Preparation of method statements for construction, disposal and Quality Assurance Plans
• Environmental impact assessment and environmental mitigation program
• Construction supervision and design support during construction

The site prep work for the western end of the tunnel can be seen on google maps:

[properinfra]

Z Morh tunnel has a value of Rs 3060 Cr. Its a 6.5 km long tunnel with 7km access roads

[IndiansUnite]

News from the past month-

Oct 4: Rahul lays foundation for Z-Morh tunnel in J&K
Z-Morh tunnel is the first of two tunnels that will ensure connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh round the year.

The 6.5 km-long tunnel gets its name from its Z formation between here and Gagangir that would avoid the regions of snowfall and avalanches and ensure connectivity with Srinagar. The two-lane, 10 metre-wide tunnel will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,716.90 crore. It will also include an egress of 3.5 metres to be used in emergency.

The tunnel, located 2,637 metres above sea level, will ensure the passage of 1,000 vehicles an hour at an approved maximum speed of 80 km per hour.

The Z-Morh tunnel is the first of the two proposed tunnels, which together will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar-Kargil-Leh and Ladakh.

The second — the Zojila Tunnel — of 13.8 km length just about 20 km away from this point is estimated to cost Rs. 5,500 crore and is likely to be approved by the Union government soon. The foundation for this tunnel is likely to be laid in April.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is executing the project. Its bidding will be finalised in a week or two. BRO DG Lt.-Gen. S. Ravi Shankar said he was confident the project would be completed ahead of the August 2018 deadline.

Supporting these two tunnels are the Chenani-Nashri and Banihal-Quazigund tunnels, which are under construction to ensure connectivity with the valley and Jammu and the rest of the country.

Once all four tunnels are put in place, the journey from Jammu to Ladakh will be reduced from 50 to about 30 hours. The entire stretch will become motorable throughout the year.

Sept 23: Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel foundation laid in HP

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the 1,200-meter long Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel project, which will connect Una and Hamirpur districts throughout the year.

The tunnel project is estimated to cost Rs 145.47 crore and reduce the distance between Bangana and Dhaneta by eight kms, Dhumal said on the occasion.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of three tunneling projects had been prepared, which included Holi-Uttrala, connecting Bharmour of district Chamba with Baijnath in district Kangra.

Bhubu Jot tunnel project, connecting Joginder Nagar and Kullu area, and Bangana-Dhaneta project have been considered as well.

Work on Bangana-Dhaneta tunnel project would be started on priority basis, for which a provision of Rs 10 crore had already been made.

The tunnel was bound to boost tourism in the area since a large number of devotees and tourists had been travelling through Una and entering other parts of the state, he said.

[IndiansUnite]

news related to the 8.3 km long Mumbai Water Supply Tunnel:

IVRCL drills record 57.38 metres of tunnel in 24 hours

HYDERABAD, DEC. 14: IVRCL Ltd and its joint venture partner Unity have drilled a record 57.38 metres of tunnel in a cycle of 24 hours, according to a company statement.

This record was achieved on a Raw Water Tunnel project being executed for the Municipal Corporation Of Brihan Mumbai (MCBM).The boring diameter of the tunnel is 6.25 metres with a finished diameter of 5.5 metres.



This tunnel is being bored with the help of a Main Beam Type Tunnel Boring Machine in hard rock. The total length of the tunnel is 8,250 metres extending from Kapurbavdi to Bhandup in Mumbai and runs 68 meters below main sea level (MSL).



The IVRCL-Unity joint venture has so far bored a length of 2,500 metres.



The IVRCL-Unity joint venture achieved the record 57.38 metres of tunnel boring in a 24-hour cycle on 12/12/12 (December 12, 2012), according to a company statement.

[IndiansUnite]

More water tunnels will be built in Mumbai:

Nov 26: Water boost: BMC starts work on two new tunnels

MUMBAI: To improve water supply in the city's fringe areas, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started construction work on two new tunnels: from Verawali to Powai and Powai to Ghatkopar.

The tunnels were announced in the civic budget last year. There are already four tunnels in operation in the city and work on two others is going on.The BMC has planned these tunnels as a long-term measure to augment the water supply, to battle pipeline encroachment and do away with the old network of pipelines above ground level.

According to civic officials, the length of the tunnel from Verawali to Powai is about 2.2 km and the one from Powai to Ghatkopar is 4.4km, with each having a diameter of 2,200mm. Work on both tunnels has been given to the same contractor with the cost estimated at Rs 263 crore.

Senior civic officials said, "Areas in Powai and Ghatkopar are at the fag end of the distribution system. Hence water reaches homes there with low pressure. The two tunnels, once ready, will bring relief to residents." The tunnels will be ready in the next four-and-a-half-years and will replace water mains from the Verawali and Ghatkopar reservoir.

The BMC has also appointed a consultant for a feasibility study on two new tunnel sites, from Chembur to Trombay and Chembur to Wadala. Work on these two tunnels is likely to begin in April 2013 and is estimated to cost Rs 460 crore.

"Once these four tunnels, and work on the on-going tunnels is completed, the BMC is not going to take any more tunnels for water supply in the near future, as most of the city will have been covered by the tunnels planned," said a civic official. The water supply system of the city is around 4,000 km. Most of the pipelines are over a decade old and are ageing leading to water wastage.

[Cygnus-X1]

Nice thread, lot of good info!

[wO_Ow]

Chenani-Nashri Tunnel

March 2012 Updates









August 2012 Updates







Credits : Sharma & Lama

[n20]

Among the best threads!

[anidel]

Thanks for the updates

[wO_Ow]

Rohtang Tunnel

June 2012



December 2012















January 2013







Credits to the Respective Owners