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Infrastructure Planning In Congested Areas on The Pattern of Delhi Metro Rail

21 June 2008

INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING IN

CONGESTED AREAS ON THE PATTERN OF

DELHI METRO RAIL

Problems of Old Cities in Developing Countries of the World :-

Almost all old cities of the developing countries which are supporting the highest population densities are facing the problems of heavy traffic, lack of proper sewerage & storm water disposal system, lack of parking spaces, and lack of social infrastructure etc. Solving of these problems were not within the capability of the local Authorities due to non availability of space in such cities and lack of technology. In the present era of science and development, the advent of new technology has made it possible to solve above problems by providing such infrastructure below or above the ground of such cities. For the benefits of the public, the living example of Delhi Metro Rail including its vast railway stations and restaurants etc. which have been constructed below and above the ground has been described as below.

Delhi Metro Rail As conceived In Delhi Master Plan

The walled city of Delhi developed traditionally over a period of time into mixed land uses ( predominantly residential cum commercial ) associated with whole sale markets is a most congested part of the city facing acute traffic problems, lack of parking spaces, and lack of social infrastructure etc. Recently, the construction of Metro Rail below ground in the said walled city has proved that natural constraints coming in the way of development can be overcome with the application of advanced technology. The Delhi Metro Rail Project is being implemented primarily to solve traffic problems of Delhi as first of all conceived in Delhi Master Plan in 1960.

Benefits Of Delhi Metro Rail

The 1^st. phase, 2^nd phase and 3rd phase of Delhi Metro Rail have already been commissioned. The operation of said Metro rail has reduced the traffic congestion on roads running parallel to the said Metro line. It has also reduced the traveling time of the commuters. It is considered reliable, safe, and more comfortable mode of transportation as it has reduced the road accidents. In addition, It has reduced atmospheric pollution including noise and has also reduced the fuel consumption of transport sector resulting in saving of foreign exchange. It reduced the need for parking spaces, expansion of roads, flyovers, laying of new roads etc. in areas which are being served by it. It reflects sense of pride to the city and country having a world class facility.

Arrangement of Funds For Delhi Metro Rail :-

As Urban MRT projects are developed to provided safe, speedy and affordable mode of travel to the commuters, such projects generally are not found financially viable in the most cities of the world, despite their large economic benefits. There fore, burden of Delhi Metro Rail is being shared through (i) Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (ii) equity contributions from the GOI / GNCTD, (ii) soft loan from the OECF (

Japan

), (iii) revenue generated through property development and (iv) certain decided levies / taxes on the city dwellers.

Enactment of the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 :-

The proposal of Delhi Metropolitan Rail first of all was conceived in Delhi Master Plan, published in 1960. For the implementation of this Project, the Metro Railway (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 was enacted and Delhi Metro Rail Co. was formulated. The responsibility for implementation of this project was given to Shri Sreedharan by appointing him as Chairman of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. He is also known for the completion of Konkan Railway Project in India before schedule.

Pooling Of Best Construction Technologies Available in the World:-

Since Delhi Metro Project is a new project for India, therefore, construction expertise of various companies were pooled by formulating their joint venture named KSHI. J.V. The said joint venture alphabetically denotes as ‘K’ for Kumagai Gumi, a company of Japan specialized in underground metro works. ‘S’ for Skanska, a company of Sweden specialized in tunnling, diaphragm walls, steel piling and piling etc , ‘H’ for Hindustan Construction Limited, a construction specialized company of India which has constructed Calcutta Metro , ‘I’ for Itochu, specialized company of Japan, ‘J’ for joint and ‘V’ for venture. The architectural services for the above project were rendered by a company named Maunsell, having its base in Australia and Singapore. The survey of Metro Railway track was conducted by Mr. Tommy Trving Chief Surveyer of Skanska a company of joint venture.

Construction Techniques Adopted For

Delhi Metro Rail Corridor.

The following four techniques of construction of Delhi Metro Rail were adopted :

1. Bottom Up Construction Technique (Open Cut Construction Technique) :

This is the technique which is normally adopted

by every builder similar to the construction of a

basement. It is the most easiest and cheapest

way of construction . This technique was

adopted where alignment of under ground

metro rail was passing through vast open

space. Through this technique first of all earth

is excavated and thereafter construction is

started from the bottom of the excavated land /

basement. Such construction was carried out

25 to 30 meters below the ground level.

2. Top Down Construction Technique :

This technique was adopted where under   ground

metro rail was proposed below any road thus having

very    narrow open space for digging the    soil.

Through this technique first of all retaining   walls

were constructed   by boring the foundations of said

walls so that adjoining constructed buildings   and

soils / rocks   foundations of such buildings may   not

collapse through gravity.   After constructing    the

retaining walls at specified gradients / slopes, the

slab relating to top roof is also constructed on the

surface    of     the   earth   by   saving shuttering

expenditure    and    earth    is    excavated later on.

Through this technique, the side walls and roof is

constructed first before excavating the earth. Since

in this technique construction has started from top to

down, therefore, this   technique   is    accordingly

named as Top Down Construction Technique. Such

construction was carried out 25 to 30 meters below

the ground level.

3. Tunnel Boring Technique :

The tunnel boring technique    was
adopted where underground Metro
Rail was constructed below    the
constructed buildings and roads.
Such tunnels were constructed 25
to    30 meters below   the ground
level.

4. Elevated Rail Construction Technique :

The elevated rail construction technique was adopted where Metro Rail was proposed to run in the centre meridian of the existing roads. Under this technique after constructing pillars, the pre cast RCC Box segments / girders were connected through high tensile wires in the form of flyovers and railway tracks were constructed thereon.

Metro Rail Construction Strategy Of

The Construction Team:-

For the construction of underground and elevated Metro Rail within a specified time, the construction work of total length of Metro Rail was sub divided into different stretches. For the construction of different stretches different construction teams of specialized Civil Engineers were deployed. Similarly the works relating to underground and elevated railway stations were also allotted to different specialized teams of Civil Engineers. The construction teams deployed for the construction of various segments of underground and elevated Metro Railway Corridor are assisted by the following ancillary teams.

Ancillary Teams Supporting The

Main Construction Teams

1) Survey Team :-The survey of Metro Railway track was conducted by Mr. Tommy Trving Chief Surveyer of Skanska a company of joint venture.

The survey of railway track was completed by a Survey Team of Surveying Experts headed by Shri Tommy Since, correctness of survey is considered the foundation of any project, therefore, credit for completion of the Delhi Metro Rail without facing any problem in the alignment of railway track, which was partly laid below earth (underground) and partly above ground (alivated) in different stretches by different construction teams goes to this team.

2) Land Acquisition Team : The land acquisition team which was functioning under the Metro Railway (Construction of Works) Act, 1978 successfully acquired all structures / and land falling within the alignment of railway track. In fact, credit for acquiring prime land without any hurdle and without any delay goes to the Govt. which has given free hand to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for acquiring the land and disbursing the compensation to the affected persons.

3) Structure Demolition Team : This team was assigned the duty to demolish all acquired structures coming in the way of Metro Rail Corridor.

4) Geo-technical Team : The Geo-technical team which have specialists for understanding the behavior of the earth and rock sliding during excavation and construction. have surveyed the area and helped the construction team in framing temporary and permanent structures for tunnelling, pile foundations and other civil works.

5) Environmental Team : This team was checking the noise, vibration, air and water pollution affecting during the construction work and was responsible for maintaining the environment of the area within the prescribed norms during the construction process of Delhi Metro Rail

6) Safety Team : The safety team consisting of different specialists of all fields were responsible for enforcing preventive and corrective actions to safe guard the security of each person working in construction of Delhi Metro Rail so that no person is affected by any accident of minor or major injury.

7) Quality Assurance Team : Quality Assurance Team was responsible for getting the quality of the structures maintained from the Construction Team working at site. This team ensured that all civil works are carried out in accordance of the specifications laid down on the plans and designs of the Metro Project.

8) Programming Team : The Programming Team was responsible for completing the entire work of Metro Project within the prescribed time. This team distributed the whole work into a time span of 54 months for the construction of different patches of the railway tracks, tunnels, railway stations etc. This team laid down different time schedules for the different patches of works. The total work was divided into 11 levels of Work Breakdown Structures ( schedule of Works ) and said schedule of works was further sub divided into yearly, monthly, weekly, daily, shift wise, hourly and even minutes wise.

9) Engineering Designing Team : This team was responsible for giving solution of every problem at site during the construction process of the Metro Rail.

10) Material Procurement Team : This team was assigned the duty of procurement of construction material.

11) Instrumentation Team : This team was responsible for studying the behavior of the earth before construction, during construction, after completion of construction works and during the operation of Metro Rail through their scientific instruments.

12) Tree Cutting & Transplantation Team : This team was assigned the duty of cutting the trees coming in the alignment of Metro Rail with the permission of the Forest Department and also for transplanting the uprooted trees at other appropriate places.

13) Water Team : The water team was consisting of Public Health specialized Engineers. This team was responsible for temporary re-aligning the water supply lines ( the water supply lines serving the existing built up areas ) coming in the way of railway track and ensuring that no house is affected due to the construction operation of the Metro Rail.

14) Power Team : This team was consisting of Electrical Engineers and this team was responsible for temporary and permanently re-aligning all power/electric lines i.e. below ground and over head coming in the way of railway track so that power of any locality is not disturbed and no casualty may take place with the execution of above project.

15) Telecom Line Team : This team consisting of Telecom Engineers was responsible to look after all lines including fibre optic lines, coaxial lines and copper lines coming in the way of railway track.

16) Storm Water Drainage Team : This team consisting of Civil Engineers specialized in Drainage works was assigned the duty to look after the drainage system coming in the way of railway track to ensure that drainage system of the area is not affected due to operation of the said Metro Rail.

17) Sewerage Team : The sewerage team consisting of Civil Engineers having specialization in public health works was assigned the duty of looking after the sewerage lines coming in the way of railway track so that existing sewerage net work of the area could not be affected due to the construction work of Metro Rail.

18) Road Team : The Road Team consisting of Civil Engineers specialized in road construction works was assigned the duty of re-aligning the existing roads coming in the way of railway tracks and for regulating the smooth flow of traffic of the area.

19) Land Excavation Team : This team specialized in earth excavation was assigned the duty of excavating the earth wherever necessary including excavation through rock blasting.

20) Earth Filling Team : This team was assigned the duty to fill the earth wherever necessary.

21) Pre-Cast Ducting Team : This team was assigned the duty to construct pre-cast ducts.

22) Water Proofing Team : This team was assigned the duty to carry out water proofing the concrete structures for stopping water seepage in underground tunnels.

23) Dewatering Team : This team was assigned the duty for dewatering the area through sucking underground water by installing tube wells at a distance of 30 meters along the railway tracks so that water may not accumulate in the tunnels being constructed at a depth of 30 to 25 meters below the ground.

24) Cracks Repair Team : This team of civil engineers having specialization inrepairing the buildings was assigned the duty of repairing cracks occurring in private buildings due to construction operation of Metro Rail Project.

25) Plant and Equipment Team : This team consisting of Mechanical Engineers was assigned the duty to repair all machinery and equipments engaged in the execution of this project.

26) Electro-Mechanical Team : After completion of civil works, the Electro-Mechanical team was assigned the duty for electrical fittings and for the installation of all electrical appliances and computers etc.

27) Lift and Escalator Team : This specialized team installed the lifts and escalators on all railway stations.

28) Public Relations Team : This team was assigned the duty to take care of all V.I.Ps inspecting the construction operations of the project.

Conclusions :-

Following the above alive example of Delhi Metro Rail, Town Planners now can solve the problems of other existing congested cities where there is a scarcity of space by recommending the application of advance construction technology. Such proposals interalia may includes

1) Construction of roads, railway tracks etc. under the ground or in elevated form.

2) Construction of underground parking space even below the existing buildings.

3) Enacting Land Acquisition Provisions similar to those adopted by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for acquiring land without litigation and for settling the compensation cases quickly.

B.N. Sharma

Retd. Senior Town Planner of

Haryana Government