Key evacuation tunnel completed on Sevoke – Rangpo Railway Project

SANJAY AGARWAL, EOI, RANGPO, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 : With an evacuation tunnel puncturing the main tunnel of Tunnel – 10 at Bhalukhola in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, the Sevoke –Rangpo Railway Project reached another milestone on Sunday. This was the second breakthrough event in the construction of the Tunnel T-10. 

Project Director Mohinder Singh and senior officials of Ircon International and Northeast Frontier Railway were present when the breakthrough was achieved.

The length of Main tunnel of T-10 is 5300 m andthe length of   Tunnel no. 1 is1144 m. This is the longest tunnel in the Sevoke-Rangpo Rail Project. It is located between Bhalukhola and Tarkhola in the Kalimpong district.

This Evacuation Tunnel No. 1 is connecting the NH-10 and the Main Tunnel No.10 and is the longest evacuation tunnel in this project. The tunnel traverses through vulnerable and challenging geological conditions of the lesser Himalayas. Like all other tunnels on the Sevoke – Rangpo Railway Project, the latest and the most sophisticated tunnelling technology, that is the New Austrian Tunnelling Method has been adopted to counter vulnerability of the groundmass. 

The design has been given by renowned European consultants. Top class and well experienced engineers from India are engaged for construction of this tunnel. The contract for the execution of the work was awarded to ITD Cementation India in May 2019. Due to major issues of handing over of forest land for the Evacuation Tunnel and due to the disruption of almost two years caused by theCovid19 pandemic, the project got delayed.

The excavation work at this evacuation tunnel began in June 2021 and the completion of the 1144metre long evacuation tunnel was achieved in just ne and a half years through such vulnerable geological conditions, which is considered a major achievement.

The puncturing of the main tunnel through the evacuation tunnel will further enhance the progress of tunnelling work at the main tunnel T-10.About 3320 metres of tunnelling work has already been completed in the main tunnel of T-10 and at present only 1980 metre of tunnelling work is yet to be completed.

This is is expected to be completed by the end of this year. About 70 percent of the overall work in this project has been completed till now. At present all the activities related to the construction of tunnels, bridges and station yards are going on war footing to complete the project by the end of 2024.