Nagpur Chhindwara Gauge conversion

Field Training in Survey and Construction of Nagpur - Chhindwara Rail
line Gauge Conversion (From Narrow Gauge to Broad gauge)
..
We met with the Chief Engineer, Shri A K Pandey and Dy Chief Engineer,
Shri H N Tripathi on 24-03-2015. Our meeting was very interactive with
the officers taking a keen interest to impart all the knowledge they
could offer us. First we met with the Dy Chief Engineer, Shri H.N.
Tripathi sir in his office room. He offered us the tea and took our
introductions. Then gave the Final Location Survey Document of the
Gauge conversion project between Nagpur and Chhindwara, costing a
total of approx. 500 crores for civil engineering works, and covering
a distance of 150 kms, which comes to around Rs 4 crore per km. I
thought the cost was still less considering the future growth and
development it’s likely to bring in the region with the gauge
conversion. Then, we met with the Chief Engineer, Shri A K Pandey. He
seemed a very energetic person with a very friendly and positive
outlook. He interacted with us in a very enthusiastic mood and took
keen interest to impart us training. After a brief interaction with
him in his office, he took us in his car and dropped us at the ORH
situated at Mt. Road. He also asked us to be ready at 3.00 pm for
pickup. We had lunch at ORH, and got ready by 3 pm to be picked up
again by him to his office. Again we sat in front of him in his
office, and he directed one of his staff to take us on the local visit
of Nagpur the same day in evening. Further, he also made planning for
the next day field training of the Nagpur Chhindwara gauge conversion
project. It was scheduled at 8.45 A.M. the next day. A vehicle would
pick us probationers from the ORH and head for the construction site
at scheduled time next morning, with the Chief Engineer and Deputy
Chief Engineer and other officers in their cars. Then, we went outside
for the local visit.
Early morning next day, at schedule time, we were ready, and as
planned, a vehicle with SSE/Bridge, Shri Dwivedi, came to pick us up.
The road between Nagpur and Chhindwara was NH47, as I remember, and It
was well maintained. Entering into the Madhya Pradesh region and
diverting away from the NH, it took us to the earth roads into the
forest, where the project was being carried out in the middle of
forest, scarcely inhabited by local people. The view was scenic, with
a feel of Safari. We came to know the roads were built for the
construction project only, as It would be impossible to carry men and
material at the site of construction in loss of road infrastructure.
First we went to the site of the tunnel. It was being constructed with
the conventional method of blasting and clearing. We walked straight
into the middle of tunnel, since the work was already in progress, it
was filled with smoke, yet we entered and saw it. We entered up to the
distance which was already reinforced with steel beams. Then we went
to the site of bridge no. 83 construction site. There the Chief
Engineer was already present and inspecting the site. He met us there
and had a brief interaction, and directed other officers to show us
things and explain them. Dy Chef Engineer Shri H N Tripathi sir
explained to us regarding the method being carried out for the
construction of Foundation which was pile foundation at the bottom and
then one pier going above the abutment. The project was really big
with some of the heights of pier over 300 metres. It was amazing to
see it in the middle of jungle. Actually, these projects were being
carried out as a result of realignment of railway path. The existing
narrow gauge alignment being a sharp curve, the realignment was being
carried out for the B.G. line as per the IRPWM. We had lunch with the
Chief Engineer and other officers there and a brief interaction.
Later, again we proceeded to another bridge site, no. 89, the
metalizing of girders work in progress, and the trusses being
assembled near to the site, to be carried over on the piers. It was
just amazing to see the scale of work in the forest, far away from the
eyes of the daily chores of society and little do they would be
knowing what effort it took to build the tunnel and bridges of such
size, once they start using it, for it would take less than a minute
to cross the complete tunnel and another minute to cross the bridge.