The Hyderabad metro rail project created a construction record on Monday with the erection of the 1,000th viaduct span and completion of 27 km of metro viaduct in just 20 months.

This marks the completion of 38 per cent of viaduct works (out of a total of 2,665 spans required for 72 km) so far, according to a statement from the Hyderabad metro.

On being informed by the MD of Hyderabad metro, NVS Reddy, about the engineering feat, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao congratulated the team of engineers in HMR and L&T.

As on date, 1,473 foundations (56 per cent) and 1,370 pillars (52 per cent) have been completed, he stated.

Sophisticated machinery

The Government facilitated setting up of India’s two biggest pre-cast yards, one at Uppal in 70 acres and another one at Qutubullahpur in 62 acres.

L&T then established factory-like pre-cast yards with sophisticated machinery such as automatic steel cutting and bending machines etc., to produce pre-cast segments each weighing about 40 tonnes.

These segments are being transported on low-bedded trolleys to various Metro construction sites and erected between pillars with the help of “launching girders”. In all, 15 launching girders are being used to carry out these erection works simultaneously at several spots.

Convenience

While the average length between two pillars is 100 feet which is bridged with 11 pre-cast segments, the average length between two station pillars is about 50 feet which is bridged with six pre-cast segments. These viaduct spans can withstand heavy loads and 21 types of stresses caused by two running trains and natural forces including heavy gales and earthquakes.

This kind of pre-casting method has facilitated rapid construction and minimum inconvenience to road users.

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