Delhi Metro constructs sharpest curve in Gurgaon

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has constructed the sharpest broad gauge curve of the Delhi Metro on its elevated secton in Gurgaon with a radius of 282.05 metres.

The curve has been built near the IFFCO Chowk between pier no. 125 and 138 and its radius is much less as compared to other curves on the entire elevated track of the Delhi Metro, where the radius is generally more than 300 metres.

According to a DMRC press release, curves of less than 300 metres are considered as "sharp curves" in urban rail construction.

It had to be done in Gurgaon to save the already existing buildings, shopping malls and residential complexes on either side of the Metro alignment along the Mehrauli-Gurgaon (MG) road and as the alignment was along the median of the running road so that maximum number of people living in the colonies close by would be benefitted by the Metro services, it said.

The release said the construction of the curve involved the use of three launchers and took twice the normal time as it had done very slowly and carefully to avoid accidents because the areas were crowded.

Against the normal time of six days to cast an elevated segment, it took 12 days for each segment in Gurgaon because of the difficult working and site conditions, the release said, adding that DMRC was able to complete the work and the section is now open for trial runs.

The release explained the work of building sharp curves required a great deal of engineering skills and several factors have to be kept in mind while designing special segments/spans at the concerned turn/juncture. It said the DMRC had to build a special dedicated bed in its casting yard for segement casting. The segments were then constructed according to the already defined ‘radius of curvature’ and then put on the elevated section.

Further, cantilever piers and portals (supports) had to be constructed at appropriate places to provide smooth transition of the curves, wherever required, to take care of the shifted alignment due to curvature, it said.

The seven km elevated Gurgaon section of the Delhi Metro forms a part of the upcoming 27 km long Central Secretariat (CTST)–Gurgaon corridor of the Delhi Metro which will be an extension of the Jahangirpuri-Central Secretariat line (Line 2).

Once the CTST-Gurgaon corridor is opened for the public, it will form an approximately 45 km long Metro line connecting North Delhi, South Delhi and Gurgaon within a span of just 90 minutes from one end to the other end.

Before the Commonwealth Games 2010, the DMRC is planning to run a fleet of approximately 60 trains on this line with a frequency as high as 3 minutes benefitting lakhs of passengers.

NNN