Page 90 - CO April 2017 Full Issue

interaction PROJECT FOCUS Afcons will be the first Indian company to build underwater Metro AFCONS INFRASTRUCTURE a SP Group company is set for a milestone by tunnelling underneath river Hooghly for the East-West Metro Project in Kolkata. AFCONS is among India’s top infrastructure companies and has executed remarkable projects in India as well as in various parts of the world. R. ANANTAKUMAR, EVP & BU HEAD – URBAN TRANSPORTATION, AFCONS INFRASTRUCTURE offered CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES a close view of India’s first under water metro tunnel project being executed by his company. Afcons is the first Indian company to underground Metro station at Chennai as How is building an underwater tunnel build Metro infrastructure under water part of Chennai Metro project. Te three- diferent from building an underground in Kolkata. What made you take up this storey station will serve as an interchange, tunnel? unique challenge? and, connect commuters with suburban and In general, underground tunnelling is Afcons has played a signifcant role in nation long-distance trains and bus services. a very challenging task but underwater building by consistently delivering iconic Afcons has consistently shown the tunnelling adds more complexities and and technologically challenging projects gumption to tackle complex projects, and risks. Due to working underwater, the risk in India and abroad. It is the frst Indian we’re excited in playing a leading role in the of water ingress increases and impact due to company to construct an underground East-West Metro Project in Kolkata. We are geological surprises is also very high. Once Metro tunnel using top-down methodology in the process of building an underwater the tunnelling starts under the river bed, it without any foreign JV in New Delhi tunnel below the bed of Hooghly River should not stop under any circumstance. In (Barakhamba Road Metro Station). Afcons for the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation underwater tunnelling, bore has to be dug is also the only company, in India, to qualify Ltd (KMRCL).Afcons will be the first much deeper due to possibility of water for Metro tunnel construction using TBMs Indian company to build underwater Metro inflow. This requires very high level of on its own. It is constructing India’s biggest infrastructure facility. detailing, precision and preparation. 92 construction opportunities|APRIL 2017