In total, the Kerala Water Supply Project requires pipelines to be laid under four railways using Trenchless Technology: Station Kadavu, VSSC area, RMS and Kunjaloomoodu.
Whilst trenchless techniques such as pipe jacking have made installation of pipes under two of the four stations quite easy, local sources report that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is still awaiting the sanction of the Railways to carry out work at RMS and Trivandrum Central stations.
“The final proposal is with the Railway Division and we hope to get the sanction soon. The Division had been very co-operative while the other two works were being carried out,” said an official with JICA.
Work has already been completed at Station Kadavu where a 27 metre pipeline was laid and VSSC area where a 47 metre pipeline was laid. The work at these two stations was completed by Electrosteel Casting, Kolkata.
The total length of the pipeline at RMS will be 60 metres and it will pass under 7 railway lines at a depth of 3.5 metres. The work at RMS will be completed by Indian construction company, Larson & Toubro.
This project is phase 3 of 4 of the Kerala Water Supply Project, which aims to improve living conditions in the southern Indian state of Kerala by providing safe and stable water service via the installation of water supply facilities. Phase 3 of the project is the distribution main which is a total of 380 kilometres long, 270 kilometres of which has already been completed.
Phases 1 & 2, which include building the water treatment plan and laying the transmission main, are partially complete, and both are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Phase 4 includes building 11 service reservoirs, of which 4 have been completed. JICA has lent the Indian government a total of 12,272 million yen ($US136.6 million) to complete the Kerala Water Supply Project.
