LMRC to bring evacuated families back to Haider Canal
Houses falling under ‘most riskprone category’ were vacated before commencement of tunnel laying work
LUCKNOW: All the 30 families shifted by the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) from Haider Canal to rented houses would be brought back to their original location soon as the corporation has completed most of tunnel laying work beneath the canal.
“The LMRC has been paying rent for the houses where these families were shifted,” said Kumar Keshav, MD, LMRC.
“Ensuring safety of residents living on bank of canal was a tough task as a large number of people were living in dilapidated buildings constructed on both sides of canal bed with their foundations resting precariously on filled up soil,” said Keshav.
Realising the enormity of the technical challenge, engineers working on the project planned each step involved in the tunneling operation below Haider Canal under the guidance and monitoring of experts.
He said an extensive building condition survey (BCS) of their residences was undertaken prior to the commencement of tunneling work 3-4 months ago.
Accordingly, the houses were put into various categories depending on their structural safety. The buildings falling under ‘B4’ category (which is the most risk-prone category) were vacated before the commencement of work. “The LMRC took the residents of these buildings into confidence and facilitated them to temporarily vacate their houses and stay in alternative accommodation till the tunnel laying work is completed,” said Keshav.
To avoid consequent damage to houses, extensive building strengthening/protection measures were undertaken, which included grouting and propping of buildings. “When these residents return to their houses, they would be getting much stronger and better finished houses,” he said. “Now their houses are safe for years. Extensive instrumentation was done in the buildings having the slightest of possibility to be affected by tunneling operation. Round-the-clock monitoring was done to ensure that settlement or tilt in buildings or ground above TBM remains within permissible limits,” he explained. All safety and emergency measures were put in place during tunnelling work.
A detailed emergency response plan was also drawn up to meet any emergency during the operation. “A team of engineers was deployed to look out for any unusual occurrence on the ground above TBM,” added Keshav. Krishnna, a resident of the colony, was happy that his neighbours would be back soon once the tunnel laying work of Lucknow Metro is completed.