03 - EXCAVATION

NOTES:
3.1 MEASUREMENTS
Measurement of earth work will generally be taken by pit measurement, only when such
measurement are not practicable cross sectional measurement may be taken, however
incase of earthen bunds constructed to retain water, only cross sectional measurements will
be taken.

3.1.1 The length, breadth and depth (or height) shall be measured correct to the nearest cm.
If the measurements are taken with level and staff, the levels shall be recorded correct to 5
mm. The area shall be calculated in Sqm. correct to two places of decimal and cubical
contents in cum correct to two places of decimal.
3.2.Classification of Strata -
(a) Loose or soft soil - Generally any soil which yields to the ordinary application of pick
and shovel, or to spade, rake or other digging implement, such as vegetable or organic soil
turf, gravel, sand, silt, loam, clay, peat, etc.
(b) Hard or dense soil- includes all materials which can be removed with shovel or spade
after loosening with pick axe, such as clay, soil mixed with lime kanker, black cotton soil
for earthen bund, soft moorum etc.
(c) Hard moorum and moorum mixed with boulders. - Generally any material which
requires the close application of picks, jumpers or scarifies to loosen, such as hard and
compact moorum and soft shale. Moorum or soil mixed with small boulders not exceeding
25 % in quantity and each less than 0.014 cum (300 mm dia or 1/70 cum) but more than
0.004 cum in size. " Boulder is a rock fragment usually rounded by weathering,
disintegration or exfoliation or abrasion by water, found lying loose on the surface or
embedded in material of dissimilar origin "
(d) Disintegrated or soft rock - Disintegrated or soft rock include such strata's which
require the close application of crow bars, picks, grafting tools and scarifies in suitable
combination for its excavation such as soft laterite, soft conglomerate hard shale, soft copra
hard and compacted moorum mixed with small boulders exceeding 25 % in quantity but
each not exceeding 0.014 cum in size and soft rock comparies of the following -
(i) Boulders (dia more than 300 mm but not greater than 0.50 cum in volume) hard laterite,
hard copra and hard conglomerate or other rock which may be quarried or split with crows
bars, with casual blasting, if required, for loosening of strata.
(ii) Any rock which in dry state may be hard, requiring blasting, but when wet becomes soft
and manageable by means other than blasting.
(e) Hard rock (requiring blasting) - Any rock or boulder (more than 0.5 cum in volume)
which requires use of mechanical plant or blasting for excavation or splitting.
(f) Hard rock (Blasting prohibited) - Hard rock requiring blasting as described under (e) but
where blasting is prohibited for any reason and excavation has to be carried out by
chiselling, wedging or any other agreed method.
3.3 Authority for classification :- The classification shall be decided by the Executive
Engineer and his decision shall be final.
3.4 Dressing - (a) Dressing is normally required at one place i.e. at the place of excavation
or at the place of filling hence the rates provided in the schedule include dressing only once,
either at the place of cut or at the place of fill. In case of canal excavation, where earth is
reused at or near the same place and for the same work, in such case only one dressing
which is already included in the basic rates is admissible, even though the dressing is
actually needed at both the places i.e. at the place of cut and at the place of fill, while

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additional rate for trimming in cutting only will be payable.
(b) In case, dressing is not done either in cut or in fill or both rate for dressing will be
reduced.
(c) No separate payment for dressing or trimming of spoil bank (s) and borrow area (s)
shall, be made.
3.5 Trimming -
(a) This comprises of removing grass and grass roots, touching the uneven surface (either
horizontal or slopping), by scraping off high patches and filling in low patches with the
scraped soil. The maximum depth of cutting or not exceeding 15 cm.
(b) This item of work shall however, not be payable for road work maintenance of approach
roads, service roads, etc. as well as where payment for dressing in earth work/ excavation
has already been made.
3.6 Wet excavation.- Extra rate for excavation will be payable only for excavation below
sub-soil water level Trial pits shall be dug in the area where excavation is required to be
done. The steady water level in the trial pits which is left undisturbed for 48 hours before
the pumping operations are started, shall be considered as sub-soil water level in the area.
3.7 Rates for items 0301 to 0309 include 50m. free lead and 1.5 m. free lift.
3.8 Lifts.
(a) Lift for all modes of handling has to be measured in an upward direction, i.e. when the
materials are moved against the force of gravity.
(b) Lift will be calculated on the height of the centre of gravity of the lifted material above
the average of ground levels at the Centre as well as upstream and down stream toe at
section of the dam/embankment. For working out extra lift payable, the initial 1.5 m free lift
shall be deducted.
(c) In the case of earthwork for canals in partial or full cutting, lift will be calculated on the
completed section of the work done from the centre of gravity of the cutting portion to the
centre of gravity of embankment minus 1.5 m free lift.
(d) In the case of canal excavation where spoil bank is formed in number of sections, more
than one, the quantity in each spoil bank has to be fitted into the canal excavation. The lifts
payable will be for the centre of gravity of excavated portion to the centre of gravity of the
corresponding spoil bank minus 1.5m free lift.
(e) No negative (downward) lift shall be payable for earth work /excavation.
(f) The estimate for Earthen dam embankment be sanctioned on the basis of approved
designs considering utilisation of useful available materials from excavation of approach
spill channel (s). The estimate for approach/spill channel (s) be sanctioned only for the
balance excavation which cannot be utilised. The payment shall also be made accordingly.
For the entire excavated materials of approach /spill channel (s) lift is payable from the
centre of gravity of the excavated portions to the centre of gravity of the banks and
deductions of 1.5 m free lift shall be made to work out the extra lift payable. However, for
the useful materials transported to the dam/ embankment lift would be payable, as per (c)
above.
3.9. Lead
(a) Extra lead for earthwork by head load beyond initial 50m free lead will be payable for
every additional 50m or part there of up to a total distance of 200m.
(b) The lead for earthwork shall be measured from the centre of borrow area (s) to the
centre line of the dam/ embankment and shall be measured as crow flies, the crow fly
distance being measured from the geometrical centre of borrow area (s) to the centre of the
dam/embankment. While calculating the lead for payment an additional five percent over
the distance calculated above shall be added to cover circuitous path.
(c) The extra lead charges for earthwork when total distance exceeds 200m (head load

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lead) will be payable as per chapter "TRANSPORTATION OF MATERIALS".
3.10.Bailing out water.-
(a) Rates do not include any allowance for bailing out of water.
(b) For excavation done departmentally the bailing out of water not requiring pumping,
shall be done as a separate items, as per actual expenses. The decision of the Executive
Engineer, as to whether or not pumping is necessary for bailing out water in any particular
case, shall be deemed as final.
3.11. Rates of items 0301 to 0309 include the following : -
(a) Separation of serviceable and unserviceable material and depositing them separately in
regular heaps or stacks as directed. Where stacking of material is done under specific orders
of the Executive Engineer with a view to utilise the entire materials on other items of
works, separate rate for stacking shall be payable.
(b) Forming (or leaving) 'dead men' to ' tell-tales' in borrow pits and their removal after
measurements.
(c) Removing slips or falls in excavations.
(d) Forming (or leaving) steps in sides of deep excavation and their removal after
measurements.
(e) Precautionary measures to be adopted in blasting as per IS 4081-1967 "Safety code of
blasting" (as amended from time to time) and storing explosives as per "Explosive Rules
1940" corrected uptodate.
3.12. Antiquities.- Any ancient carvings, relics of antiquity, coins or other curiosities which
may be discovered or excavated are the property of the Government and are to be delivered
to the Engineer-in-Charge.
3.13. Any vegetation, earth, moorum, sand, gravel, debris, brickwork, concrete, masonry
etc. obtained form excavation shall form the property of the Government.
3.14.Removal of earth deposits from the bed of new channels- Removal of the earth/soil
deposited, including due to slips etc. in the bed of channel could be paid as per item no
0301, only when the estimate for its removal has been prepared on the basis of cross
sections, longitudinal section plotted on graph measurement book (s), duly compared with
the Completed/ executed/designed sectioned and later sectioned by the Competent
Authority. Such work could than be executed through contract " Agency on form A or
form B "

Code Description Unit Rate (Rs.)

0301 Earth work in bulk excavation (exceeding 30cm in depth, 1.5m in width
as well as 10sqm on plan) including disposal of excavated soil lead upto
50m and lift upto 1.5m, disposed soil to be levelled and neatly dressed.
(a) Loose or soft soil cum 90.8
(b) Dense or hard soil cum 117.5
(c) Hard moorum cum 155.8

0302 Earth work in bulk excavation (exceeding 30cm in depth, 1.5m in width
as well as 10sqm on plan) including disposal or stacking of excavated
soil lead upto 50m lift upto 1.5m
(a) Disintegrated or soft rock (not requiring blasting) cum 369.5
(b) Hard rock requiring blasting cum 451.6
(c) Hard rock requiring chiselling (where blasting is prohibited) cum 776.4

0303 Deleted ---- ----

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Code Description Unit Rate (Rs.)

0304 Earth work in rough excavation, filling excavated earth into depressions
on banking as directed, top surface to be levelled and neatly dressed.
(a) Loose or soft soil cum 100.9
(b) Dense or hard soil cum 129.7
(c) Hard moorum cum 145.7

0305 Deleted ---- ----

0306 Deleted ---- ----

0307 Earth work in excavation in trenches for foundations and for pipes,
cables etc. not exceeding 1.5m in width and for shafts, cesspits and the
like not exceeding 10sqm on plan including dressing of sides and
ramming of bottoms lift upto 1.5m including getting out the excavated
soil and disposal of surplus excavated soil as directed, within a lead of
50m
(a) Loose or soft soil cum 97.9
(b) Dense or hard soil cum 127.7
(c) Hard moorum cum 167.4

0308 Excavation in trenches for foundations and for pipes, cables, etc. not
exceeding 1.5m in width and for shafts, cesspits and the like not
exceeding 10 sqm on plan including dressing of sides and ramming of
bottoms, lift upto 1.5m including getting out and stacking the excavated
soil and disposal of surplus excavated soil as directed within a lead of
50m
(a) Disintegrated or soft rock (not requiring blasting) cum 410.3
(b) Hard rock requiring blasting cum 562.7
(c) Hard rock requiring chiselling (i.e. hard rock requiring blasting cum 800.6
but where blasting is prohibited)
0309 Extra rates for quantities of work executed. In or under water or in foul cum 20% of
condition (extra rate for the main item concerned is allowed on account respective item
of slow progress of works)
0310 Excavating post holes (or similar holes) upto 0.5cum including getting
out the excavated soil, than returning the soil as required in layers not
exceeding 20cm in depth, including consolidating each deposited layer
by ramming, watering etc., disposing of surplus excavated soil as
directed within a lead of 50m and making good the surface.
(a) Loose or soft soil nos. 91.7
(b) Dense or hard soil nos. 118.7
(c) Disintegrated or soft rock (not requiring blasting) nos. 240.4

0311 Boring holes 3.5m deep in ordinary soil (for cast in situ piles) and
getting out the soil (under ramming if any shall be paid for separately)
and disposal of the surplus excavated soil as directed within a lead of
50m for-Diameter of piles.
(a) 200 mm nos. 536.8
(b) 250 mm nos. 642.4
(c) 300 mm nos. 750.9

0312 Extra for under-ramming inside the bore holes for under reamed piles.

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Code Description Unit Rate (Rs.)

(a) 200mm nos. 203.9

(b) 250mm nos. 255.6
(c) 300mm nos. 304.6

0313 Add to or deduct from the rate for bore holes of 3.5metre depths, if the
bore-holes are made deeper or shallower than 3.5metres.
(a) 200mm RM 171.3
(b) 250mm RM 228.4
(c) 300mm RM 255.6

0314 Deleted ---- ----

0315 Deleted. ---- ----

0316 Surface dressing of ground, including removing vegetation, and/ or

unequalities not exceeding 15cm deep and disposal of rubbish lead upto
50m And lift upto1.5m
(a) Loose or soft soil sqm. 7.2
(b) Dense or hard soil sqm. 10.0

0317 Dag-beling

(a) Single spade stroke minimum 75mm deep RM 0.4

(b) Double spade "v" shaped stroke 100mm deep RM 0.8

0318 Extra for every additional Lead beyond 50metres or part thereof upto 200 cum 39.6
m for every 50 m lead
0319 Pumping out water caused by springs tidal or river seepage, broken water kl. 63.5
mains or drains or well point pumping and the like.
0320 Deduct from item no.0301, 0303, 0304, 0307 & 0308 If dressing either cum 10 % extra of
not done or not done as per specification respective item
0321 Dry silt clearance in drainage and culvert etc. cum 64.8

0322 Extra for every additional lift of 1.5 m or part there of

(a) Loose/soft soil and dense/hard soil cum 10.7

(b) Disintegrated/ soft or hard rock cum 18.7

0323 Construction of embankment/sub grade by fly ash including clearing & cum 64.8
grabbing existing surface, (as per clause 305 and its sub clauses where
required and as per IRC SP-58-2001) i/c all lifts, cost of spreading,
watering, compaction and maintenance of surface during construction to
ensure shedding and preventing ponding of water, providing camber,
shaping and dressing, finishing etc. complete. (lead for fly ash will be
paid extra excluding loading)

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