Delhi (Metro Rail News): The NCR Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is building the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), has begun work on a 150-meter-long steel span, the longest in the 82 KM project near Ghaziabad’s New Bus Adda Metro station.
According to officials, the overpass would be built to allow high-speed RRTS trains to go over the Delhi Metro’s Red Line.
The trains employed in the RRTS project will travel at 180 km/h and will pass over several infrastructure projects in Ghaziabad, for which the NCRTC is providing special steel spans to ensure smooth operation. The organisation has also constructed a 73-meter long, 800-tonne unique span near the Hindon river.
A similar crossing will be built near the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (near Duhai), allowing RRTS trains to go over the elevated expressway.
An officer from NCRTC stated, “The 150m-long span that we are constructing is the third and the longest span weighing about 3,200 tonnes. It has prefabricated parts, which are being assembled at night. We are also taking blocks from Delhi Metro at night for completing the structure. For the purpose, we are using two special cranes, which have capacity to lift 300 and 500 tonnes of prefabricated pieces. The entire 150 metres span is a single structure and supported by a single pillar.”
The RRTS project proposes to use high-speed trains to connect Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. Ghaziabad is developing a 17-kilometre priority section from Sahibabad to Duhai. This section of the route is expected to open in March 2023, with the complete line expected to open in March 2025. The cost of the RRTS project is estimated to be Rs 30,274 crore.
According to Puneet Vats, NCRTC’s top PRO, The special span of 150 metres is being installed due to a space constraint at the site and the need for seamless RRTS train movement. The high-speed RRTS train can easily cross the flyover, GT Road, and Metro alignment with the help of this span. The span would be built with an 8-meter clearance over the Metro line.
Officials stated they are working on the project on ad hoc days to avoid causing traffic congestion on GT Road. The GT Road is one of Ghaziabad’s busiest highway portions, connecting Sahibabad to the city and also carrying traffic to Meerut and Bulandshahr.
The NCRTC is also building the Ghaziabad RRTS station to accommodate the movement of RRTS trains across the Metro alignment. According to officials, the first RRTS train, with six coaches, is slated to arrive in three months, following which the trial run would begin.
