Skip to main content

CONSTRUCTION MARVELS OF INDIA


CONSTRUCTION MARVELS OF INDIA

When we think about engineering marvels, we mostly focus on the appearance of the structures and often don’t consider the sheer constructional mastery of them. India is not only rich in scenic delights; it has some of the most spectacular structures in the world that are examples of immense advancements in the field of civil engineering.
These constructional marvels are testimony to that.

1. Pamban Bridge, Tamil Nadu

India’s first cantilever bridge connecting the town of Mandapam in the mainland with Pamban Island and the island of Rameswaram, Pamban Bridge is our country’s first sea bridge and the second-longest of its kind. Opened in February 1914, this conventional bridge rests on concrete piers and also has a double-leaf bascule section with a Scherzer rolling type lift span midway. The bridge consists of 143 piers and the two leaves, each weighing 415 tons can be raised manually with the help of levers for the passage of ships and barges. What makes it one of its kind is the location, as it’s in the world’s second most corrosive environment to ever exist, and the area is also a high wind velocity cyclone-prone zone.

2.  The underwater tunnel, Kolkata

The East-West Metro Tunnel, after completion, will be the first underwater river tunnel in India. Constructed by the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation, this tunnel of total length 16.6km is constructed both above ground and underground, underneath the Hooghly river. The section that is under the river is of length 520 meters with a depth of 30 meters from the ground level. The average distance from the roof to the ground is 17 meters. Track laying for metro services is currently ongoing whereas the cross passes have been completed. The latest cutting-edge boring process uses “Earth Pressure Balance” Tunnel Boring Machines which causes the least disturbance on the ground level. This marvel of modern engineering, with a 5.8 km elevated corridor and a 10.8 km underground corridor is set to open in the year 2021.

3. I-Flex Solutions Building, Bangalore

 This bold and state-of-the-art structure is an iconic building that is a must-see for all structural engineering enthusiasts. The structure is spread over an area of 200,000 square feet and consists of two buildings. The Development block is a 3-sided building with a glass façade and the Corporate block is almost ship-like in structure. The construction is iconic since it uses the stay-cable structure, which is normally used in bridges, and is the first time when it has been used in a multi-tiered commercial building of such great magnitude. The glass facades and glass floor with water flowing underneath it adds to the splendor of the construction. It is truly a great example of good architecture and great engineering.

4. Chenab Bridge, Jammu and Kashmir 

 The Indian Railways is building the world’s highest railway bridge spanning the Chenab River at a height of 359m above the river. Connecting the towns of Udhampur in Jammu and Baramulla in Kashmir, its length after completion will be 1,315m including the 650m viaduct on its northern side. A large number of tunnels in the rugged terrain and over deep gorges make its construction quite a big challenge. It is single arched, made of steel trusses and concrete filling that helps in controlling wind-induced tensions, withstand earthquakes and also be blast resistant. The reduced number of bearings used reduces inspection and maintenance and also improves the riding quality. This one-of-a-kind bridge is projected to be taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

These structural delights never fail to leave us in awe of all the talented engineering minds, who with their amazing creations, leave behind a small piece of their legacy for posterity.

-By Srishti Sen
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

HISTORY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

HISTORY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Civil engineering at its roots in the application of physical and scientific principles for solving the problems of society, and its history is intricately linked to not only the advances in the understanding of physics and mathematics throughout history, but also the knowledge of structures, materials science, geography, geology, soils, hydrology, environment, mechanics, etc. Thus, it could be inferred that civil engineering has been an aspect of life since the beginnings. The civilizations of Mesopotamia, Indus Valley, and ancient Egypt showed the earliest practice of civil engineering between 4000 and 2000 BC. This was mainly due to the fact that the people stopped their nomadic way of life and needed shelters. Also, the wheel was invented as a need for transportation arose. Later this led to the construction of roads. The Romans developed civil structures throughout their empire, including especially aqueducts, insulae, harbors, bridg...
Post a Comment
Read more

GREEN BUILDING

GREEN BUILDING A real estate property that is designed, built, operated, and maintained using environmentally responsible and resource-efficient processes. Moreover, renovated or refurbished properties can be also considered as green sustainable buildings. For example, using green building materials and implementing environmentally friendly technologies would reduce the carbon footprint. Buildings must comply with different criteria to obtain globally recognized green certifications such as Energy Star and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications. These ensure that real estate properties follow the set of standards that qualify them as a green building. In addition, real estate investors can add these certifications to their list of credentials so as to attract more customers and investors, especially when people are aware of the environmental `consequences of conventional buildings and are willing to invest in green buildings. Green building mat...
Post a Comment
Read more

CONSTRUCTION AMIDST A PANDEMIC

CONSTRUCTION AMIDST A PANDEMIC We are currently living in one of the worst pandemics in history; and amid such panic, the doctors and medical staff are at the frontlines, battling the deadly COVID-19 virus. Another set of heroes that worked in the backdrop and provided the doctors with an extensive medical facility in the shortest possible time are the engineers behind the building of the two mobile hospitals in China. In the wake of the coronavirus spreading like wildfire in China, the government decided to built a mobile hospital with 1000 beds and all critical care facilities to battle the SARS virus. The Huoshenshan Hospital was built from 23 January 2020 to 2 February 2020 in the Wuhan district. Later, another facility, the Leishenshan Hospital was built 40 km away. Both of these were placed such that they were close to Wuhan, which was the epicentre of the pandemic, as well as major cities like Beijing. The hospital was built faster since a type-design was used from ...
Post a Comment
Read more