One PB, many works completed

S Vishnu Sharma, INN/Chennai, @Svs037

Works accomplished were many for Chennai division of Southern Railway, while power block (line block) was imposed for 14 hours in Chennai Beach to Villupuram route of Southern Railway. Major bridge construction work was completed in between Guduvanchery and Vandalur in Chennai Beach – Villupuram section on June 23. 

Sources from Chennai division of Southern Railway say, construction work was taken up at Bridge No 116A at km 38/11-12. A breach occurred at this location in 2015, heavy rains were the reason for that. 

Subsequently it was decided to go for two additional minor bridges and one major bridge at that spot. The sanction for taking up that work was obtained in 2017-18 at a cost of Rs 2.3 crore. Two minor bridges were completed last year, after that construction of the major bridge was taken up.

The major bridge work was completed one hour ahead of the 14 hour line block (power block) permitted for the work. To complete the construction work, 12 precast Reinforced Concrete Cement (RCC) boxes of clear size 9.15 x 2.65 metres with segment length 1.5 m and weighing 70 tonnes each were placed with the help of 350 tonnes crawler type crane using the cut open method. 

Using the block period, a temporary girder was inserted for a subway in the same section. At level Crossing No.57 at KM 66/14-16 between Chengalpattu and Ottivakkam in Chennai Egmore – Villupuram section, temporary girders have been erected for LC 57 at km 66/14-16 in for doing the subway work in subsequent weekend blocks, say sources from Southern Railway.

Meanwhile, at Chennai Egmore, the work of providing supporting braces for the foot over Bridge was done during the power block availed for the work yesterday night. Also, section by section track maintenance work was carried out between Chennai Beach and Velachery stations on MRTS today. 

Using the power block period in Chennai Egmore–Villupuram section, 3700 metres of track between Vandalur and Guduvanchery was detressed and 6 rail joints were welded. Tie tamping of Track and ballast cleaning was also undertaken in the section using the BCM(Ballast Cleaning Machine) between Guduvanchery and Kattankulatur stations. 

Also, attention to various track conditions including attention to water stagnation prone places and greasing was done in the section along with sleeper renewal wherever required.

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