Micro-Tunnelling For Utility Diversion Work Begins On Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail
The National Capital Regional Transport Corporation (NCRTC) - responsible for implementing the country's first semi-high speed regional rapid transit system (RRTS) network, began micro-tunneling technique for utility diversion work at the under-construction Anand Vihar station on the upcoming 82.5 km long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut regional rapid rail corridor. (Also Read: Alstom Begins Manufacturing Of Trains For India's 1st Rapid Rail Corridor )
Micro-tunnelling is an underground tunnel construction technique used for constructing smaller tunnels for utility diversion such as drainage pipelines, to minimise the public inconvenience caused during the construction work, according to the National Capital Regional Transport Corporation.
The technique allows free public movement in the area and is mostly adopted in places where footfall is high and trenching is not advisable as the extraction of debris causes the blockage of passages restricting movement. It is also useful for preserving the existing infrastructure from any physical damage or alteration.
The Anand Vihar station area on the upcoming RRTS corridor is one of the busiest commuter transit hubs surrounded by a metro station serving two metro lines, a railway station, as well as two interstate bus terminals (ISBT) - one at Delhi side and the other one at the Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh side.
The Delhi-Meerut rapid rail - the country's first regional rapid corridor, will have a total of 22 RRTS stations, out of which four will be in the national capital, including the one at Anand Vihar. Once completely ready for services, the Delhi-Meerut rapid rail will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Meerut to just 55 minutes.
In the first phase of the regional rapid transit system network in the national capital region, three priority corridors will be implemented - Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-Gururgram-Rewari-Alwar, and Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat. These corridors will converge at Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan RRTS station.
Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut will be India's first regional rapid rail which is targeted for completion by 20215. Its priority section - the 17 km long Sahibabad-Duhai is likely to open for commuters by 2023.
