DMRC launches 200 U-girders; work on Noida-Greater Noida corridor picks up pace
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has claimed that it has expedited the work on the Noida-Greater Noida metro section by launching 200 'U-girders' in May. "This converts to approximately 2.7 kilometres of twin Metro elevated viaduct, thus significantly expediting the progress of construction on the corridor," said DMRC's Managing Director Dr. Mangu Singh.
"The feat was achieved this month by DMRC's engineers in close coordination with the Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) and local district authorities. Six cranes and six trailers were deployed for launching the U-girders on this corridor." said a DMRC spokesperson.
"This is the maximum number of U-girders ever launched in any Metro corridor in India within a month. Till now, DMRC had achieved a maximum of 110 U-girders in a month on the Faridabad corridor,” he said.
DMRC said that the viaduct on the section is being constructed by specialised technique of pre-cast pier caps and pre-cast U-girders.
These U-girders are being cast at casting yard, mainly one in Noida and other in Greater Noida.
"The typical length of a U-girder is 27 metres and it weighs around 160 tons. The main challenge of U-girders is precision in casting as well as launching, which requires specialised cranes of 350/400 tons capacity,” the spokesperson said.
"The transportation of U-girders from the casting yards to the site is another challenge because of its length and width. Specialised trailers are mobilised for transporting these U-girders and is done mainly at night,” he said. “Escort vehicles are also deployed for transporting these U-girders by road,” he said. U-girders have been primarily used on the Airport line and the Faridabad corridor of DMRC, Kochi Metro and Lucknow Metro, he said.
The work of Noida-Greater Noida Corridor is being executed by the DMRC on behalf of NMRC.
The civil works on this corridor consist of 29.7 kilometres of viaduct and 21 stations. Six kilometres of viaduct has been completed already on this corridor in a span of one year since the award of first contract for civil works, the spokesperson said.