The Hindu : New Delhi News : Metro building highest-ever rail platform in the Capital

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Friday, Jul 25, 2008
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Metro building highest-ever rail platform in the Capital

Staff Reporter

The platform -- 19 metres high -- is over Karkardooma flyover on Vikas Marg

Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Highest: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation working on one of the two longest spans of metro rail Phase II on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: Nineteen metres above the ground, a platform being constructed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation over the Karkardooma flyover on the busy Vikas Marg in East Delhi will be the highest of its kind in the Capital.

As part of the second phase of Delhi Metro construction, the DMRC is constructing two of the longest spans of about 70 metres over the Karkardooma flyover. According to DMRC officials, this will become the highest point on the metro system once the stretch becomes operational.

These spans are located between Preet Vihar and Karkardooma stations. The first span crosses the flyover and a ramp which is adjacent to the flyover, while the second crosses a drain.

Special engineering method

“Usually the normal length of a special span varies from 40 metres to 60 metres while normal spans are 18 metres to 37 metres. These spans are being made using a special engineering method known as the balanced cantilever method so as to avoid disturbance to the traffic during construction,” said a DMRC official.

The DMRC has had to raise the height of the metro at Karkardooma because of an existing flyover. “The DMRC has provided an elevation of 6.1 metres above the Karkardooma flyover making the height of the platform from the ground level approximately 19 metres,” the official said.

The normal height of a platform is usually 12 metres to 13 metres from the ground level and the maximum height at present is 17 metres at Raja Garden on Line III in West Delhi.

“Vikas Marg is one of the busiest intersections of the city and DMRC is achieving this technological feat without stopping or disturbing the traffic flow. These spans are part of the metro line that is being constructed from Yamuna Depot to Anand Vihar ISBT,” the official said.

The section is completely elevated and is 6.17 km long with a total of five stations at Laxmi Nagar, Nirman Vihar, Preet Vihar, Karkardooma and Anand Vihar (ISBT). The section is expected to become operational by December 2009 and is further being extended to Vaishali in Ghaziabad by 2.5 km via Kaushambi.

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