Major Tunnel Construction Project in India by Shapoorji Pallonji

Established way back in 1865, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group has grown to be a leading engineering presence as it works with the visions of its companies to build megastructures, develop iconic landmarks, and drive innovative technologies. Back in 2000, Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Pvt Ltd acquired a majority stake in Afcons Infrastructure Ltd.

This company has played a major role in the avenue of infrastructure construction for roadways, and metro projects across India as well as worked on important projects across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Afcons has also been a prominent force in India as a renowned tunnel construction company.

Let’s explore the most path-breaking tunnel infrastructure construction projects by Shapoorji Pallonji Group’s Afcons.

1. East-West Metro Tunnel Below Hooghly River, Kolkata

First underwater river tunnel in India, this historic project has been constructed as part of Kolkata’s East-West Metro line. It is a tunnel constructed directly underneath the Hooghly river where a 520m stretch of the tracks will go through. Once the tunnel construction is completed, it will begin operations in 2021 as India’s first underwater train line.

2. Rohtang Pass Highway Tunnel Project, Himachal Pradesh

Another historic project for this tunnel construction company comes in the form of the world’s longest motorable tunnel 3,000m above sea level. Situated in the Pir Panjal ranges in Manali, it is one of the most challenging tunnel projects in the world because of its weather conditions and rough landscape. The Rohtang Pass Highway Tunnel will significantly provide all-season connectivity in the Ladakh, Lahaul, and Spiti regions even in peak winters.

3. Railway Tunnels on Katra-Laole Section of USBRL Project, J & K

Engineering and construction in the Himalayan region can be a daunting and challenging process and that is what Afcons took on for this project. The infrastructure construction company bagged this project for Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) in Sangaldan, a remote location situated some 185 km from Jammu. It was the tunnel construction of five BG single-line railway tunnels that together extended over 9 kms. These tunnels in the Katra-Laole section were one of the most challenging stretches of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project in J&K. The USBRL project is one of the most ambitious and challenging projects in the northern part of Jammu & Kashmir that will link the Kashmir valley to far-reaching areas, transforming lives and economy in the region.