9 minute read
Eight Lane Expressway in Madhya Pradesh
Challenges in the mix
Due to the complexity and expansive nature of the project, challenges were imminent.
1. Undulating terrain. 2. Roads going through rivers and cities. 3. Challenging climatic conditions. 4. Difficult to use conventional methods of design. 5. The need of 3D modelling.
Set to be one of the longest highways in the country, the Narmada expressway is a proposed eight-lane expressway in Madhya Pradesh. However, being close to many rivers, numerous cross-sections over lakes are consistent throughout the project.
The expressway features long-span bridges and tunnels passing through undulating terrain, rivers, and cities, compounded by challenging climate conditions. LN Malviya bid on the project and initially used conventional methods for conceptual design. However, they quickly realized they needed advanced 3D modeling and analysis technology to optimize alignment and geometry of the long-span bridge and high-speed highway design.
Solutions that Paved The Way
The LN Malviya Infra Projects Pvt Ltd selected Bentley’ OpenRoads Designer to model roadway alignment, and OpenBridge and STAAD to model the bridge structure and analyze hundreds of load combinations, ensuring the bridge could resist high water currents and wind pressure. Bentley’s applications improved overall design efficiency by 25 percent and boosted productivity by 40 percent, reducing bridge design time by 200 hours and saving costs and resource hours. The integrated solution provided accurate geometric calculations and streamlined coordination, facilitating clear communication of design intent and technical management throughout the project development stage.
About the Product
LN Malviya Projects used three products from the Bentley Systems; the OpenRoads Designer which is primarily used for roads and highways, the OpenBridge which is used for various types of Bridges and the STAAD Pro which is an advanced 3D structural analysis and design software.
OpenRoads Designer
Provides a platform for plan and construction documentation, surveying, stormwater design and analysis, visualization, geotechnical, underground utilities, and detailed roadway design.
OpenBridge
Offers new 3D parametric modelling design environment, capabilities for surveying, drainage, subsurface utilities, roadway design and site design.
STAAD Pro
Simplifies concrete and steel BIM workflow by using a physical model in STAAD Pro that automatically converts into the analytical model for structural analysis.
48 INTERVIEW Steering Connectivity and Inclusion on the Frontiers
The Border Road Organization (BRO) epitomizes national integration. It works in inclement weather and the most treacherous terrain to construct road infrastructure, ensuring connectivity and boosting social inclusion in the most far-flung regions in the country, says Lt. Gen. Rajeev Chaudhary, Director General, BRO, in an interview with Geospatial Artha.
Nation’s Consistent Faith in BRO
Founded in 1960, the BRO soon acquired a leading role in infrastructure development along the border areas. Over the years, we have immensely contributed to security preparedness and socio-economic development. With the emergence of new construction agencies, the role of the BRO has become more vibrant.
Our organization has witnessed a tremendous budget allotment surge which has trebled in the last five years. It has reached to INR 13500 Cr in the year 2022-23, and we plan to hit around INR 15000 Cr.
Because of our robust planning, optimal resource management, timely execution, dedication, and determination of BRO Karmyogis (staff), the government is allotting us more work to achieve faster results.
For this, we must keep pace with the latest technology and adopt innovation at work to carry out infra projects in border areas at high and super high altitudes.
Successful Projects Along the Frontiers
Today, we are a premier organization playing a vital role in infrastructure development in the country. We are regarded as a symbol of nation-building and national integration.
The Border Road Organization (BRO) has recently constructed a 52 kilometers (km) long tarmac road through ‘Umling La Pass’ at 19024 ft, which is located at a distance of 15 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). It is now the world’s highest motorable pass constructed at an altitude higher than the Mt Everest Base Camps. The road is way above the altitude of Siachen Glacier,
which is at 17,700 ft and supersedes the ‘Khardung La Pass’ in Leh, at an altitude of 17,582 ft. It was recognized as World’s Highest Road by Guinness World Records in 2021.
Tunneling is perhaps one of the most challenging construction activities. However, BRO has acquired niche capabilities at high-altitude mountains.
We recently completed three tunnels. out of which Atal Tunnel in Rohtang, at an altitude of above 10,000 feet, has been certified as the world's longest by the World Book of Records, London. This year, it received Best Infrastructure Project award from the Indian Building Congress (IBC).
We have also finished the Chamba Tunnel underneath the busy Chamba town on Rishikesh-Dharasu road. Besides, the work is progressing on Sela and Nechiphu tunnels on the road Balipara-Cardhuar-Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Sela is the highest pass on the road Balipara-Cardhuar-Tawang at an altitude of 13800 feet.
Once completed this would be the longest bi-lane road tunnel in the world at an altitude above 13000 ft. Work on the 2.79 km long Sungal Tunnel on Akhnoor-Poonch road (NH-144A) under Project Sampark in Jammu and Kashmir is also progressing well. We have also undertaken a 105 m long first departmental tunnel on Sela-Chebrela-BJ Gompa Road in Arunachal Pradesh.
Apart from this, preparatory work for the construction of 4.10 km Shinku La Tunnel on NimuPadam-Darcha Road, 8.20 km Key La Tunnel on Karu-Tangtse Road, 2.20 km Hamboting La tunnel on Khaltse-Kargil Road in Ladakh and 9.80 km Brahmaputra River underwater tunnel in North East are at different stages and likely to commence shortly.
We have also constructed 19 airfields to date and work is in progress on two major strategic airfield projects at Bagdogra and Barrackpore.
Adoption of New Technologies
BRO is at the forefront of introducing the latest cost-effective and environmentally friendly technologies which help address many construction-related challenges that have been affecting road construction.
We are using cementitious bases for road construction, which reduces carbon footprints. We are using this technology in the construction of many roads in Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh.
Geocells are being utilized to increase the elastic modulus of sub-base and base-course of the pavement, which are being used on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road & Hapoli-Sarli-Huri road in Arunachal Pradesh and Sasoma-Saserla Road in UT of Ladakh on large scale.
Meanwhile, BRO predominantly works in the ecologically sensitive hilly terrains where special emphasis has been given to protect hill slopes.
We use various new technologies for slope stabilization to mitigate landslides & protect hill slopes. Slope stabilization is being carried out by using various methods such as Drapery with Hill Side Gabion Wall, Dynamic Rockfall Barrier, Secured Drapery with Micro Piling & Rockfall Embankment. The new Austrian Tunnelling Method has been used to construct all the tunnels.
Besides, Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mat is also being used for surface drains on Road TCC–Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh, while Geo-synthetic membrane has been used for sub-surface drains in Barrackpore runway works in West Bengal.
We have also adopted Plastic Coated Aggregates as an eco-friendly initiative to reuse plastic waste on various roads in India and abroad too.
With this technology, we constructed 4.5 km on Phuentsholing-Thimphu Road in Bhutan, 2.5 km on Balipara-Charduar-Tawang road, and 2.0 km on Hapoli-Sarli-Huri in Arunachal Pradesh and 1.0 km
on Roing-Koronu-Paya road in Arunachal Pradesh and 5.22 km on Hnathial-Sangau-Saiha Road in Mizoram.
BRO use interlinking concrete blocks (ILCBs) on the pavement of roads at mountain passes, where heavy snowfall occurs. During snow clearance operations, bituminous road layers get damaged by tracked Dozers.
BRO has executed a pilot project in Arunachal Pradesh with all the pre-cast elements i.e., protective structures, reinforced earth walls, culverts, drains, and pavements. This technique is economical if the overall life cycle cost is considered.
On similar lines, pre-cast box culverts have been constructed in UT of Ladakh, which has been found extremely useful in speeding up construction and averting/ reducing disruptions to traffic.
BRO in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation’s R&D Centre, Faridabad, has taken a lead to test certain concepts/ products/technologies such as Polybag Bitumen, Warm Mix Bitumen in HAAs, Use of CRMB-55 in High Precipitation Areas, Ready Mix Bitumen and Use of Recycled Geo-Synthetic Material. These materials will be advantageous when implemented in specific working conditions of BRO.
Road Safety at High Altitude
We know that globally, a large number of lives are lost due to road accidents. BRO is committed to improving road safety and making our roads accident-free.
Over the last few years, we have witnessed increased road accidents due to the influx of tourists and vehicles in the border areas. BRO is now constructing road infrastructure to sustain traffic for all weather conditions to reduce the chances and frequency of accidents on our roads.
We have scaled up road safety awareness amongst all BRO personnel and other road users. As the nodal agency for all road safety aspects, we have established a Centre of Excellence for Road Safety Awareness (CoERSA) at our headquarters.
It will prepare SOP/Policy formulation, conduct training for Road Safety Audit, and monitor and coordinate audit of roads. For the first time, an internal audit of all projects is taking place to identify potential accident sites and hotspots on vulnerable road stretches. We are also preparing a comprehensive public outreach program.
Socio-economic Development
We build road infrastructure that helps in integrating the most isolated and economically backward regions of the country with the mainland.
For instance, we built a 180 feet bridge in Sanklang-Toong in Sikkim on Tulung Chu road. This bridge is called the “Bridge of Hope” by the locals. Before this, the locals traveled 56 km by vehicle and 14 km on foot to reach Saffo Village.
In some places, these infrastructures helped in preventing migration to the cities while it triggered reverse migration as villagers moved back. In addition, the Army and the Para Military Forces have constructed better accommodation in the forward areas.
Environmental Concerns and Women’s Participation
Besides providing local employment opportunities, we also work with the administration to reduce the environmental impact of construction activities.
We always prefer local materials to avoid costly transportation, and we use cementitious technology to reduce aggregate consumption. In the meantime, we adopt modern technology to reduce our carbon footprint.
Since its inception, BRO has increased the number of women employed in various roles. Women officers are providing logistic support, looking after signal communication & IT at HQ DGBR, and a large number of medical officers providing essential health care services in the forward most areas of deployment.
Because of these Women Officers’ contribution to setting exemplary standards in being inspirational leaders, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) felicitated four women officers from Border Roads Organization in 2022.
