Himalayan marvel ‘Thanks to rapid advancementsinengincering skills and technology, innovative ways have been found to meet growing transportation requirements across the world. Though engineers, project managers and archieects are actively involved in identifying new modes of transportation like road, water, rail or air, connectivity through tunnels is also an important option in some cases Such requirements are often seen while building networks in the hilly regions. One such engineering marvel is the Chenani Nashri Tunnel project being constructed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. On completion the 9 km long project will not just be longest eunnel in India but also in South Bast Asia. The tunnel currently under construction isa part of an ambitious four laning project of the NH-IA between Udhampur and Banihal. The tunnel, bypassing the existing NH-1A from 89 km to 130 km, crosses the sub-Himalayan Patnitop range through a flyshoid geological formation with maximum overburden of 1050 m. It includes a 24ane main tunnel with parallel escape cunnel. The concession for projectis on BOT (Annuity) basis fora period of 20 years. ‘The 9km long tunnel, being built at the foot of the Himalayan mountains will connect Chenani with Nashriin Udhampac district. The Indian Government has entrusted the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) with the responsibility for rehabilitating, strengthening and four-laning of Chenani to Nashri Section of NH-1A, from km 89 to km 130. Ie is the most important project planned to connect the Kashmir valley with che Indian eransporeation network systems. The project was awarded by NHAI to Chenani Nashri Tunnelway Led (CNTL),a 100 per cent subsidiary of IL&FS Transportation Networks Led, floated specially to develop and execute the project. ‘The Coneession Agreement for the project, inked on June 28, 2010, involves a construction period of five years from the appointed date of May 23,2011. ITNL plays dual rolein the development ofthe project bothasa concessionaireand as the developer. ‘The 9 km long bi-directional (2-lane) main tunnel is served by separate parallel escape tunnel that is designed as emergency access for the rescue teams during operation as well as for site traffic use during construction stage. These two eunnels are connected through pedestrian cross passages every 300 mand vehicular cross passages at intervals of 1200 m, For the main tunnel the total widch of the tunnel is 11.75 m, including the 9.35 m wide paved carriageway and 1.2 m wide walkways on both sides with 5.5 1m vertical clearance. The tunnel geometry has been defined taking into account the provisions for the fully transverse ventilation system (exhaust air and fre provided). The escape tunnel complies with the required clearance dimensions for the operational stage. ‘Thebreakthrough for the Escape Tunnel was achieved on June 2, 2014 and for the Maia Tunnel on July 13, 2015. On an average about 900 workers have been working round the clock on the project and atotalof 10.23 million man hours have been spentat site, The total project costs estimated tobe worth 37,200 million, of which 80 percent is being funded on debe basis from various banks including around US$ 60 million through ECBs, which is being explored and the remaining is through ITNL’s internal sources ~ equity and sub-debt. air ducts are ‘The tunnel is being constructed through the ‘New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) technique. Under NATM, the tunnel is sequentially excavated and supported. The project involves cutting and excavating the ‘massive Himalayan rocks, for which ITNLCREXNTEGme eeoa Location: Jammu & Kashmir Total Project Gost: %37,200 milion Toll Plaza: 02 Vehicular Cross Passages: : 08 Pedestrian Cross Passage: 21 Slope Protection Works at Hill Side: Tunnel Control Centre (Building): 02 has deployed advanced tunneling and Aslling equipment. In addition, the tunnel project will be the first in the country to implement Integrated Tunnel Control Systems (ITCS) where ventilation, fire sontrol, signalling, communication and clectrical systems will be automatically actuated and supported by a3 tier power backup. ‘The construction on a geologically mountainous region, especially a challenging onc like the majestic Himalayas, posed a serious hurdle to the project executioner. However, o overcome these hurdles ITNL has deployed and installed numerous seate- ofthe-art technologies and machineries in completing the excavation process Aparc from unique software, high capacity articulated trucks, concrete spraying machines, batching plants, concrete pumps and transit mixers which are being sourced from globally renowned players, [TNL has also deployed wheel loaders, truck mounted éranes, hydraulically operated gantries and formwork for Lining, Ventilation Slab and Partition Wall. Atlas Copco, Norma. Macons; GHH and Putzmeister are few of the key machinery providers involved in the construction of the prestigious road tunnel project: KEY BENEFITS This road tunnel will bean all-weather and reliable commutation passegway throughout the year. Apart from strengthening the incer and intra seate connectivity of the Jammu and Kashmir region, the projects expected to yield considerable economic benefits to the nation, Authority: National Highways Authority of India (NHAl) Developer: IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd (TNL) Concessionaire: Chenani Nashri Tunnelway Ltd (GNTL) Total Length of Tunnel: 9 km long tunnel (2 Lane) with Parallel escape tunnel Concession Period: 20 years (including 5 years of Construction Period) Tunnel Excavation Method: New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) Slope Protection Works at Valley Side: 1500 mts Schedule Project Completion Date (SPCD): May 23, 2016 Estimated Project Completion Timeline: May, 2016 760 mts On completion the project is expected to bring about the following benefits + The eunnel is expected to cut down travel time between Chenani and Nashri, and eventually from Jammu to Srinagar by an hour and a half to ewo as the distance between the two points will reduce by 31 km ‘© Benefits in terms of savings in Vehicle Operating Costs and fuel cose is presently estimated to be around 82.70 million per day + Easy and efficient transportation of goods and passengers within the state and also to India’s other key transportation networks © The project has already provided employment for about 2000 unskilled semi-skilled and skilled youth of Jammu & Kashmir ‘© The project will also employ close to 200 workers during the Operation and Maintenance phase +The projects expected to enhance the state's socio-economic and political seatus nor just on a national level bue also globally Apart from its national importance, the project has also added a feather in the success cap of ITNL, which was formed asa wholly owned subsidiary of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS), who has been a major player in India's infrastructure development and financing for the last 25 years. The company is today a market leader in the transportinfrastructre sector and is one ofthe largest private sector BOT road operators in India. °