The tunnelling technique of two major tunnel projects in India  || MEIL
Channel: Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd
Date: 2023-05-07

#meil #zojilapass #tunnels #transport #irrigation #drinkingwater #chardhamrailproject 
 A tunnel is an underground passageway dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock and enclosed except for the entrance and exit. Tunnels' history dates back to primitive societies where people excavated them for caves. Many civilisations developed tunnelling methods and used tunnels for irrigation, transportation, and as secret passages for kings. So the tunnelling methods also evolved along with the humans.

Today in this modern world, tunnels are very crucial. They are being excavated for multiple purposes like mining ores, transportation including road vehicles, trains, subways, and canals and conducting water and sewage, underground hydroelectric-power plants, pumping stations, vehicle parking, storage of oil and water, water-treatment plants, command centres and other special military needs.

The MEIL is excavating tunnels for significant power, irrigation, drinking and road projects across India. Two significant tunnel projects strategically crucial for the country are the Zojila road tunnel project in Jammu & Kashmir and the Chardham rail tunnel project in Uttarakhand. Both these projects are ongoing in the young Himalayan mountains. Once ready, the Zojila tunnel project will be Asia's longest bidirectional road tunnel providing all-weather connectivity to the Ladakh region. The Chardham rail tunnel project will ease the journey to Chardham shrines.

As the Himalayan mountains are young and fragile, our workforce is carrying out the tunnel works with utmost care. We are using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) for the excavation. It is both a construction method and a design philosophy. The NATM philosophy looks to use the strength of the surrounding soil to the greatest extent possible to strengthen the tunnel structure. The NATM philosophy also promotes constant monitoring. The technique proved beneficial in diversified geological conditions where rock mass forecasting is difficult due to rapidly changing geology. We are using this method for both the Zojial and Chardham projects. Once these two critical projects are ready, the MEIL name will be written with golden letters in the Indian infrastructure development history.


Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) is a major infrastructure company headquartered in Hyderabad, India.The company was established in 1989 as a small fabrication unit. In due course of time, the unit made a name for itself. We are fired by the zeal to equip the country with an engineering and infrastructure foundation that can hold up its pillars for generations to come.