Break through of main Tunnel T-14 between Sawalkote and Sangaldan Station on under construction Katra-Banihal Section of USBRL Project
Another Big Achievement for Railways in USBRL Project
The breakthrough ceremony was done by a female employee Named Ms.Indu Paul Kaur of Awantipora from Kashmir, an Engineer in IRCON
Shri Shobhan Chaudhuri, General Manager Northern Railway informed that Northern Railway has achieved a major milestone in the USBRL project on 04.04.2023 by executing break-through of Tunnel T-14(Main Tunnel) between Sawalkote and Sangaldan Station on under construction Katra-Banihal Section of USBRL Project. The line and level of the tunnel are precisely achieved during the breakthrough of T-14 . The breakthrough ceremony was done by a female employee Named Ms.Indu Paul Kaur of Awantipora from Kashmir, an Engineer in IRCON.
T-14 is a tunnel of length 6.284 Km and the ends are located in two districts namely Reasi and Ramban. The tunnel portals are located in remotest villages of district Reasi and Ramban with no road connectivity prior to start of tunnel construction. The south portal (P-1) of Tunnel T-14 is located in Sawalkote village, Tehsil Arnas, at a distance of 100 km from District H.Q. Reasi (J&K) at an altitude of approx. 1070 m, while the North Portal (P-2) of the tunnel is located in Ind village, Tehsil Gool, District Ramban, at an altitude of approx.1150 m.
T-14 tunnel has two tubes, i.e. one is the main tunnel and other is the escape tunnel. The tunnel has been constructed using NATM (i.e. New Austrian Tunneling Method) methodology, which is an observational and sequential construction method. NATM is well suited for tunneling in ground / strata having varying geology. The Cross section of the tunnel is modified horseshoe shape.
In order to facilitate construction of this long tunnel, one adit of length 978m has also been constructed. The tunnel has a ruling gradient of 1 in 80 and a design speed of 100 Kmph. As per International standards, Escape Tunnel is being constructed in parallel to the Main Tunnel, connected by cross passages at an interval of 375m to facilitate rescue, relief and restoration work.
The work of construction was entrusted by NR to M/s KONKAN Railway Corporation Ltd. from South portal (P-1) and to M/s IRCON International Ltd. From North portal (P-2).
The tunnel passes through complex geological conditions composing Murree formation at south end and Dolomite at north end separated by Subathu formation. Several Challenges were encountered in the course of construction such as shear zone, encountering flammable gases (methane), perched aquifer, and highly jointed rock mass, and high ingress of water. The team of experienced engineers of NR, KRCL& IRCON along with the executing agencies successfully negotiated all challenges and achieved this major breakthrough.
During construction activities of the tunnel, almost 65% of the workforce was locals, giving a boost to employment. Approach roads were constructed to reach tunnel portal locations thereby connecting villages in the region which changed the overall socio economic landscape.Breakthrough has been achieved in the presence of Shri S.P. Mahi CAO/USBRL along with officers of NR, KRCL, IRCON and Executing Agencies.
Out of 272 Km length of Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link Project (USBRL) Project, 161 Km has already been commissioned and operationalized. The work of intervening stretch of 111 Km between Katra Banihal Section traverses through hilly terrain of lower Himalayas, in which Geology is a major challenge. It has several major bridges and very long tunnels and work is under progress at a rapid pace.
The breakthrough of this tunnel has been seen as an achievement of another milestone for this National project in making the dream of connecting the valley to the rest of India a success.
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