L&T wins tunnelling contract from RVNL in Uttarakhand

The construction arm of L&T has secured a contract for heavy civil infrastructure business from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for Package 4 of the New Broad-Gauge Line between Rishikesh and Karanprayag in Uttarakhand. The scope of work includes the construction of tunnels, formation, construction shaft, and other ancillary works from Chainage 47+360 to 63+117 km. The project also involves the construction of 14.577 km up line and 13.123 km down line tunnel with embankments of about 800 meters at both ends. Out of 14.577 km and 13.123 km of tunnel, 10.49 km and 10.317 km of tunnel will be excavated using two new hard rock Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) of diameter 9.1 meters and the balance using New Austrian Tunnel Method (NATM). The work includes the construction of an Ellipsoidal-cum-Ventilation Shaft in the finished cross-section of 79 square meters and a depth of 32 meters. This will be the biggest TBM to be deployed in the Himalayan region in India and the TBM bored tunnel length of 20.807 km will be the longest for any project in the Himalayan belt. The entire project is to be completed within a period of 60 months. The rail line will not only facilitate easy access to Uttarakhand's pilgrimage sites, but also enable the development of backward areas, connect new trade centres, and serve the resident population. Director & Senior Executive VP (Civil Infrastructure), S. V. Desai, informed that the company is already constructing Package 2 of this project involving 24 km of tunnel with the NATM, minor bridges and formation works.