Haryana Orbital Rail prepares to begin new civil contract package

The SMEC RITES JV has been overseeing the management and implementation of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) project since early 2022, with foundation stone laid in October 2022 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The design and construction of the HORC from Palwal to Sonipat via Sohna, Manesar and Kharkhouda will provide seamless connectivity for passenger and freight traffic. The rail link totalling 148.774 km (127.932 km + 20.842 km) will deliver an alternative route and time savings to traffic presently moving in a congested path via Delhi.

Recently our client, the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HRIDCL), opened technical bids for a 25.92 km Civil Contract Package (C-23). This package involves design and construction of earthworks, bridges, station buildings, retaining walls and other works. It includes linking to Indian Railways network from New Patli to Patli Station, and New Patli to Sultanpur station.

To date, the SMEC team has been working to deliver C4 package which consists of a 4.73km long twin tube tunnel and 16 bridges along with embankment work. This has been a challenging task, with other packages being completed simultaneously. The C5 package, a 3.50km long viaduct, and the P1 of the tunnel (C4 package), both involved works at the same site, with DFC alignment crossing at the same location. After thorough physical investigation of the area by our team, the locations of both the A2 viaduct and P1 tunnel were finalized. Kept approximately 6m apart will serve as appropriate road width for emergency services in the future.

The key risks associated with the construction of tunnelling have been the availability of low cover/overburden (22m to 60m) in the tunnel and having a comparatively larger finished cross-sectional area of 71.063 Sqm. In other railway projects it is within 40 Sqm for BG Single line. The tunnelling is also to be executed in non-cohesive soil and highly fractured rock which is prone to wedge failure. A decision was made to construct four ventilation shafts and one utility/construction shaft along the alignment of the tunnels. This will give extra faces to work on during execution, reducing the excavation time and ultimately saving costs.

We look forward to continuing to make progress on the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor project to boost economic development and social mobility for both Delhi and Haryana.

Project

Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC)

Location

India

Client

Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HRIDCL)

Expertise

Rail & Metro Transport Planning & Advisory Civil & Structural Engineering