India’s first four-level transportation corridor to be unveiled in Nagpur

A defining moment in the history of Indiarsquos metro rail construction will be witnessed when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates remaining routes of Nagpur Metro Phase1 on December 11Metro routes from Kasturchand Park to Automotive Square Line1 and Jhansi Rani Square to Prajapati Nagar Line2 will be dedicated to the people of NagpurA major attraction will be the opening of a fourlevel transportation corridor which is formed out of a 189M wide steel girder launched across live railway tracks at a height of 28M from ground levelThe unique multilevel transportation network will be seen for the first time in the country An existing vehicular and pedestrian underpass forms the bottommost level there are railway tracks on top of it which forms the second levelThe National Highway and the Metro line will form the third and fourth levels respectively This will be part of Asiarsquos longest doubledecker viaduct spanning 53 kmAfcons had erected this 80M doubledecker steel span weighing 1650 MT in a record time of two months The steel superstructure was placed over the Gaddigodam Railway Crossing where more than 150 trains and over one lakh vehicles passed the construction site every day Launching of a gigantic 189 M wide girder is probably a first in Indian RailwaysldquoThe doubledecker Open Web Girder OWG which was created with 1650MT structural steel with 8000 structural elements was placed over the busy Gaddigodam Railway Crossing last winter All the activities were done in extremely tight railway block hours given how busy this route is The span stands at a height of 28M above ground Such a critical and complex task has never been attempted before in Indiardquo said Afconsrsquo Project Manager Arun KumarAlso Read In Photos PM Narendra Modi casts vote for Gujarat Assembly electionsApart from the 80M steel span two adjacent composite girders with RCC deck slab each of 25M span had to be completed During the preparatory stage the team manoeuvred the projectrsquos technical complexity amidst space constraints at site severe winter unseasonal rains the pandemic as well as a tight deadlineWith Afcons already setting a precedent with beforetime delivery of complex elements at Reach3 it was no surprise when Maha Metro asked the team to complete the activity in two months instead of the allotted five months A crack team was formed which innovatively completed the task within two months adhering to all quality and safety standards Several records were also created in the short periodldquoWe really had to dig deep into our reserves All forces collaborated to make this onceinalifetime challenge a success Apart from our colleagues at site and Head Office we also enlisted expert support from our Chenab Railway Bridge Project to critically review our preparedness Manpower and machines were mobilised at an unprecedented pacerdquo reminisced Project Controller Amarsinh RautFour 250500T cranes one super lift arrangement 22 torque wrench machines were deployed and special lowering arrangements were made for the entire operationPhase1 of Nagpur Metro comprises 39KM elevated corridor Afcons has constructed 171 KM which is almost 4437 of total viaduct length and around 5137 of overall civil works Besides the longest doubledecker viaduct Afcons has also constructed eight stations in Reach2 and Reach1 and two depots The Sitabuldi Interchange Station constructed by Afcons is the highest Metro interchange station in IndiaExtreme Showmiddot Afcons has constructed Asiarsquos longest doubledecker viaduct 53 KM in Nagpurmiddot The first level will be for the National Highway and the second level will be for Metromiddot The fourlevel transportation corridor is located at the Gaddigodam Crossingmiddot This will comprise a vehicular and pedestrian underpass railway lines National Highway and Metromiddot This unique arrangement is part of the 53 KM MetrocumNHAI doubledecker viaductmiddot Launching of 189 M wide steel girder across live railway tracks at 28M height is a first for the Indian Railways