ABSTRACT
The Adanigarh to Puranakatak railway tunnel project in Odisha, India, led by East Coast Railway (ECoR), aims to connect remote areas of Eastern and Western Orissa, and eventually provide a direct route to Visakhapatnam port. The project, part of the Khurdha Road–Bolangir rail line, involves four tunnels (T4, T5, T6, T7) totaling 7.492 km and an Escape Tunnel.
It utilizes both “Cut & Cover” and “NATM” methods, accompanied with innovations such as a Double- Shutter Gantry, Polyfibre- Reinforced Shotcrete (PFRS), and Polyform- Concrete Lining, improving cost-effectiveness and safety. The proactive measures adopted, resolved the land acquisition issues, and optimized access routes, thereby minimizing delays and costs. The project has, by now, achieved 1.5 million safe working hours and saved the felling of nearly 3,000 trees.
Currently in the advanced stage of construction, the project is set to complete within 30 months. It showcases effective solutions to challenges related to mobilization, communication, wildlife, and construction techniques, and emphasizing upon NATM technology and on-site innovations to accelerate progress
