Significance of Underground Works in Urban Infrastructure

Development in India

Imran Sayeed Rahul Khanna

Chief (Geology) Deputy Manager (Geology)
Project Investigation Division
NHPC Office Complex, Sector-33, Faridabad

Abstract

Urban infrastructure development in large Indian cities is one of the biggest challenges
facing the planners. Whether it is exceptionally large growth of vehicles or exorbitantly
high cost of land or lack of open air space, ironically underground space creation or tube
railway have not found the attention they deserve primarily due to certain pre-conceived
notions, scepticism and mis-guided approach. The paper attempts to set the record straight
and give a detailed account of certain successful tunnelling projects and how technology
can be transferred from one sector to another for the benefit of the nation.

India currently has operational metro railway systems in five cities and in about 10 cites
Metrorail projects are under construction. In the Twelfth Five-Year Plan it has been
recommended that all Indian cities with a population in excess of 2 million start planning
rail transit projects and cities with a population in excess of 3 million start constructing the
metro rails. An estimated investment for the development of metro rails in Indian cities is
USD 26.1 billion (Planning Commission, 2011).

The route-kilometre cost of the urban metro depends upon ratio of underground to above
ground construction to underground, ground conditions, station spacing, type of rolling
stock, environment and safety constraints and labour costs. In most of the new metro
projects which are coming up in number of towns in India proposed to have large
proportion of elevated or ground level stretches. Even though the cost of elevated option
appears to be less than that of underground metro, the socio-economic and environmental
aspects are being overlooked. Moreover, it is felt that in India there has been inhibition in
the minds of planners w.r.t. tunnelling and uncertainties associated with it. If we compare
the cost of hydro tunnels with that of metro tunnels it appears that former are much cheaper.
This may be due to tight construction schedule, constraints of space and heavy safe guards
required for working in cities. In order to seek some answers an attempt has been made in
this paper to undertake a comparative study betweentunnels completed through tunnel
boring machine (TBM)in Kishanganga hydroelectric project located in J & K and Delhi
Metro Phase-II project with respect to geological conditions encountered, progress achieved
and TBM specifications. The comparative assessment of the rock/soil properties and
various problems encountered with respect to ground water and tunnelling media are also
considered while making the assessment of the progress. The14.75km stretch of
Kishanganga hydro tunnel has been completed by single TBM in record period of 37
months through the Himalayan rocks. The average per month progress has been 412m with
highest recorded monthly progress of 812m. For the 30 km underground stretch of Delhi
Metro phase-II, 14 nos of TBM’s have been deployed. The average monthly progress of
372m and highest monthly progress of 511m by single TBM has been achieved.

Other areas in which underground space can be created are the parking lots and waste water
treatment plants. The list will increase once the confidence develops.

The above study is innovative and has been undertaken with a purpose of developing
interest of the professionals in the related infrastructural fields in order to find solutions to
problems of common interest. Whether this analysis can bring a paradigm shift in the
mindset of the planner’s, only time will tell? It should be always kept in mind that going
underground helps the environment.