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Metro Builds Homes on Unstable Ground
15 Jul
Summary
- New houses are being built near metro tunnels on geologically vulnerable soil.
- Engineers will use modern techniques for buildings near the deep metro tunnels.
- Plate load tests will determine soil capacity before construction on tunnels.
Construction of new housing for those displaced by Kolkata's East-West Metro project is underway in Durga Pituri Lane, an area prone to geological instability. The project's implementing agency, KMRC, is building on open land near the metro's twin underground tunnels, which run 15 meters deep. Engineers face challenges in constructing foundations, known as pilings, close to the tunnels, with half of the designated area unusable for this purpose.
Modern techniques are being adopted to build structures on the soft soil in proximity to the tunnels. Construction above the tunnels will commence only after conducting plate load tests. This method assesses the soil's bearing capacity and settlement behavior by applying loads to a steel plate, guiding the construction of foundation footings using imported materials. For areas away from the tunnel zone, deep piles ranging from 15m to 20m are being dug for the completed buildings.
