Page 23 - CONSTRUCTION VISION July August 2017 issue

COVER STORY

ammu and Kashmir's Chenani-Nashri The Rs 2,519-crore all-weather tunnel, is Chandwar, who was earlier with the National
tunnel, touted as India's longest located at an elevation of 1,200 metres. Highways Authority of India, said the tunnel
Jtunnel, is also the country's "safest", also has a special drainage system to flush
with provisions to ensure the safety of The tunnel will help reduce the 41 km- out water flowing in from the mountains and
passengers from fire incidents and collision distance between Chenani in Udhampur to use it for fire fighting and construction
inside the 10.9 km-long tunnel on the district and Nashri in Ramban to 10.9 km and activities.
Jammu-Srinagar Highway, says a top official. can be covered in 10 minutes, instead of the
two-and-half hour needed currently. The "This tunnel is completely dry, which means
The Chenani-Nashri tunnel, built with new Jammu and Srinagar Highway is considered not a single drop of water will be present in
Austrian tunnel technology, has a series of to be the lifeline of the state. the entire tunnel. To make it dry we have put
smart safety features -- all functioning a water proofing membrane behind the
through a single software. Once all the other 12 tunnels are concrete walls.
constructed, it will reduce the length of the
"Its uniqueness is that it has an Integrated 293 km between Jammu and Srinagar by 62 Behind the membrane there is a system
Tunnel System, under which all the systems km. This 231 km can be covered in 4-4.5 which collects the water coming out from the
such as Entrance Detection Control System, hours. mountains and takes it to a central drain.
Electrical Fire Signalling System and Video
Surveillance System and Evacuation A unique feature of the tunnel is that at every Once collected the water is saved for captive
Broadcast System, are controlled through 150 metres it has an emergency SOS box use such as fire fighting and construction
one particular software," Ashutosh and a safety evacuation passage connecting activities. This water is rock water so it is
Chandwar, Vice President of Infrastructure to a safety tunnel constructed parallel to the completely safe for drinking as well," said
Leasing and Financial Services (IL &FS), told main tunnel. Chandwar.
IANS in an interview.
"The tunnel has an Incident Detection On the difficulties faced while executing the
IL&FS bagged the tender for executing the Systems under which if any accident project, Chandwar said the tunnel has an
project with NHAI's support. happens, our control team will get to know "over burden" of 1,100 metres which means
According to Chandwar, in tunnels abroad before the victim contacts us through the over the tunnel there was a mountain of
such safety techniques require a separate SOS call box. 1,100 metres, and in such a situation when
software for every feature, making it difficult the mountains are dug there is a immense
to be handled. Accordingly, our rescue team will help in pressure from both sides of the mountain,
evacuation of the person and vehicle through creating difficulties in construction.
Stating that the Chenani-Nashri tunnel can the safety tunnel," said Chandwar. He said
be called the "safest highway tunnel in the the tunnel has hydrants at every 150 metres, "We also faced severe difficulties in taking
country", Chandwar said that the tunnel also to tackle any kind of fire incidents. the construction material inside and taking
has specialised cameras which would count out the excavated material, as there were
the number of vehicles in the tunnel and According to Chandwar, who has been only two ways to enter the tunnel.
accordingly set the speed limit. monitoring every development related to
construction of the tunnel, at every 75 metres The third challenge was to maintain the
"The Traffic Control System in the tunnel has there is a video surveillance monitor through ventilation system for the workers inside as
green and red lights, the speed limit signs which cameras will help in detection of any they should get enough oxygen. We were
and others are variable signs depending "suspicious acts" by anyone inside the compelled to install ventilation ducts and
upon the traffic condition inside the tunnel," tunnel. fans," said Chandwar.
said Chandwar.
"There is a tube to provide fresh air. The National Highways and Infrastructure
The tunnel is part of the Jammu-Srinagar Everything is well managed," said Chandwar. Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) has
Highway's four-laning project. Twelve other According to official statistics, the entire also decided to replicate the technology for
similar tunnel projects are being constructed project was completed in 5.5 years and it the upcoming 14 km Zoji la tunnel, between
to reduce travel time and distance between was closely monitored by the Ministry Of Leh and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu and Srinagar. Road, Transport and Highways.

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