Laser enabled equipment mounted on a helicopter for conducting ground surveyDelhi-Varanasi High-Speed rail corridor:In order to conduct the ground survey for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) of the proposed Delhi-Varanasi high-speed rail corridor, light detection and ranging survey (LiDAR) technique using laser enabled equipment mounted on a helicopter will be adopted, said theNational High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
The aerial LiDAR survey technique was adopted for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor due to its high accuracy,which was the very first time when this method was used for any railway project in the country.
The data provided through theLiDAR technology can be usefulfor several projects includingsurface transport, roads, irrigation, landslides, canals,city planning, etc.
(Also Read:Bullet Train Project: Tender Invited For Delhi-Amritsar High-Speed Rail Corridor)NHSRCL is entrusted with the responsibility for the implementation, development,and maintenance of the upcoming high-speed rail corridor by the Ministry of Railways.
It is responsible for preparing the detailed project report for the Delhi-Varanasi high-speed rail corridor.According to NHSRCL, the alignment or ground survey is a crucial activity for any linear infrastructure project as the survey provides accurate details of the areas around the alignment.
Thetechnique uses a combination of laser data, GPS data, flight parameters as well asactual photographs to provide survey data.
Based on the findings of the survey, the following aspects of the project are decided:Designing of the vertical andhorizontal alignmentLocation of the stations and depotsLand requirement for the corridorIdentification of the project affected plots/structuresThe ground survey using aerial LiDAR for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridoralignment was done only in 12 weeks against the 10-12 months if it had been done through the traditional survey methods.Delhi-Varanasi High-Speed rail corridor - top features:The alignment of the proposed Delhi-Varanasi high-speed rail corridor covers mixed terrains, including densely populated urban and rural areas, roads,highways, rivers, ghats,as well as green fields.The corridor's tentative length is around800 kilometres and the alignment, andstations of this corridorwill be decided in consultation with the government.An NHSRCLofficial said that the Delhi-Varanasi high-speed rail corridor will connect the national capital territoryof Delhi with major cities such as Mathura, Agra Lucknow, Prayagraj, Etawah, Varanasi,Raebareli, Bhadohi, and Ayodhya.The Delhi-Varanasi main high-speed corridor will be linked to the city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradeshand the route will connect the upcoming Jewar International Airport.Delhi-Varanasi High-Speed rail corridor- current project status:The ground survey on this project using the aerial LiDAR technique has already started with the reference points on the ground marked.
From December 13, the collection of data through equipment mounted on a helicopter will commence in a phased manner, depending on the weather conditions.Also Read:Bullet Train Project: Agreement Signed With L-T For India's Biggest Infrastructure ContractMeanwhile, theprioritized bullet train corridor project is the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, which will reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just three hours, once completely operational.
This will be the first bullet train in the country andwill be 508-km long.Recently, the NHSRCLsigned a contract agreement with the infrastructure majorLarsen - Toubro (L-T) for the design and construction of the 237 km long viaduct for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
It isslated as the country's biggest infrastructure contract for design and construction.