Tunnelling in Challenging Topography & Geological Conditions for a Railway Doubling Project in Eastern Ghats
S.S. Nirmal, L. Kumar, A. Shaz & R. Gupta, RITES Limited, Gurgaon
The East Coast Railway is constructing a new railway line parallel to an existing one in the Koraput-Singapur Road section. This 164-km long railway line has 36 existing tunnels and 24 tunnels for proposed second line. The existing line was constructed in 1982 through a dense forest and varying geology. This paper focuses on a smaller section of 45-km length between Tikri and Bhalumaska with 19 proposed tunnels.
The existing railway line passes through steep gradients with sharp curves. The region has a low population and dense forests. The proposed line is planned to increase the capacity of the section. Planning optimal alignment was a challenge due to a range of factors. The project encountered geological challenges during the design of the proposed Tunnel 23. This paper discusses the various failures that were recorded while it was being constructed, the challenges faced during its execution, and the decisions made while following sustainable practices.
The East Coast Railway is constructing a new railway line parallel to an existing one in the Koraput-Singapur Road section. This 164-km long railway line has 36 existing tunnels and 24 tunnels for proposed second line. The existing line was constructed in 1982 through a dense forest and varying geology. This paper focuses on a smaller section of 45-km length between Tikri and Bhalumaska with 19 proposed tunnels.
The existing railway line passes through steep gradients with sharp curves. The region has a low population and dense forests. The proposed line is planned to increase the capacity of the section. Planning optimal alignment was a challenge due to a range of factors. The project encountered geological challenges during the design of the proposed Tunnel 23. This paper discusses the various failures that were recorded while it was being constructed, the challenges faced during its execution, and the decisions made while following sustainable practices.
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NBM&CW November 2023
