Afcons Infrastructure: Lessons Learned From USBRL Project

KVVR Sarma, Vice President, Afcons Infrastructure, shares valuable insights from his experience in the USBRL Project and emphasizes the need for detailed geological investigations, real-time data analysis, and effective collaboration among stakeholders.
From a project execution perspective, significant improvements are necessary, and we are actively addressing these in the construction of the longest railway tunnel in the USBRL Project. Our field experience highlights the importance of detailed geological prediction systems and day-to-day mapping of face logs. Accurate predictions based on daily data help align with the DPR and provide timely results. While DPR offers comprehensive data, real-time field observations are crucial for precise short-term and long-term predictions.
Long-term geological exploration is essential but sometimes limited by access issues. This should be addressed as a priority before starting a project. Additionally, clients should provide geological reports on time during the design phase to eliminate ambiguities. Implementing seismic predictions and other advanced techniques at the site level, with support from clients and consultants, is vital. Collaboration among the Design and Development Consultant (DDC), client, and contractor is necessary to address immediate issues and prevent long-term project delays.

For short-term solutions, addressing specific issues like cavities is crucial. In the USBRL project, we encountered many cavities and had to reprofile nearly two kilometers of tunnel. Collaborating with consultants, such as Lombardi, helped us manage these challenges effectively.
The Building Information Modeling (BIM) system has proved to be valuable, as implemented in our Bilaspur project. BIM assists in monitoring cycle times and predicting project completion, highlighting differences between projected and actual timelines. It also aids in tracking project status and provides technical inputs for early completion.