NEW DELHI (Metro Rail & Steel): The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has achieved a significant milestone by successfully installing all six steel spans on the Delhi section of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor. These specialized steel spans have been strategically placed to facilitate the RRTS route’s crossing of the Ghazipur drain and Kondli roundabout on its journey from Ashok Nagar to Anand Vihar.
This marks a first of its kind installation for the RRTS corridor, with these steel spans forming the longest viaduct constructed for the RRTS, using specially designed steel spans. The accomplishment stands as a pivotal landmark for the RRTS, embodying the vision of a connected and resilient transportation network. The total length of these steel spans reaches 360 meters, comprising three spans, each 70 meters in length, and three spans, each 50 meters in length. These spans are nearly 14 meters wide and weigh a substantial 540 tonnes each, constructed with heavy beams made of structural steel.
The manufacturing process involved fabricating these spans in a factory and then transporting them to the installation site, where they were meticulously assembled using specialized techniques to meet the exacting requirements of construction, installation, and operation. The Ghazipur drain, which spans 40-50 meters in width, presented a significant challenge for constructing deep foundations to support the pillars. The installation site also posed obstacles such as roads, large pipelines, high-tension lines, and more.
Typically, NCRTC constructs pillars at a 34-meter distance to facilitate viaduct installation. However, in exceptional cases where the RRTS corridor crosses rivers, rail crossings, expressways, metro corridors, and more, the use of steel spans becomes necessary to connect the pillars. With this latest development, the total number of steel spans along the RRTS corridor now stands at 12. The remaining six spans have been installed at various locations, including Meerut (1), Vasundhra (1), Ghaziabad (1), Duhai Depot (2), and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (1).
