Tracing the Evolution of Tunnelling in India

Dinesh Chand Deshwal, Commissioner-Railway Safety (Northern Circle), Ministry of Civil Aviation, Govt of India, delves into the history of tunnelling in India, tracing its evolution from early hand-drilled techniques to modern, technology-driven approaches, and underlines the increasing role of tunnelling in metro rail projects and the need for capacity building.
Tunnelling has always been one of the most challenging aspects of infrastructure development. Despite our best efforts, it is impossible to entirely eliminate the risk of failure due to unforeseen geological conditions. Historically, tunnel construction in India dates back to the early days of railway construction. The first railway line, connecting Bolivar and Thane, was established in 1853. To extend connectivity to the Northeast and Southeast, tunnelling in the Western Ghats became necessary.