No Dig India Show 2023
13th International Conference & Exhibition on Trenchless Technology
Solutions for Water, Wastewater, Oil & Gas, Electricity & Telecommunication Utility Industry
08th & 09th December 2023
Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
Why dig Trenches when there are better solutions
Standard Operating Procedures for application of Trenchless in Developing and Maintaining Subsurface Utility Networks under PWD Roads in New Delhi.
As a direct sequel to IndSTT initiative 'Defending Trenchless', Public Works Department, Delhi Government (PWD) has appointed IndSTT for establishing Standard Operating Procedures for executing Trenchless works under the PWD Roads in New Delhi with an aim to reduce road damages and cave-ins.
It may be known that PWD is the main agency looking after the maintenance of Major roads in Delhi. Different agencies like DJB, BSES, Airtel, BSNL, IGL, etc. approach PWD for getting road cutting permissions for laying or maintaining cables and pipes through Trenchless Technology. PWD has observed that after completion of their work by Trenchless Technology, roads at many places settle / Cave-in resulting in damage to the road structure, perhaps due to improper execution of works.
In view of this PWD has decided to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure for Trenchless Technology so that it could be attached with the road cutting permissions to be given to all the agencies for strict compliance.
For the uninitiated, the following is to explain the complete set of activities:
As the manager of major Delhi roads, PWD permits utility owner to install, repair or maintain utilities like telecom, power, water, or drainage lines under such spaces. For such construction works, PWD permits the Utility owners to excavate the road surface but restores the road itself to maintain the pavement quality after the utility is laid or repaired, as the case may be.
For open cut projects, the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) have been established and standardized over ages, however for Trenchless methods, these procedures are yet to be established leading to unregulated technology applications. Such unregulated works coupled with bad workmanship or operator/equipment failure are leading to several unsavory situations for PWD. As widely reported, in some cases the unrestricted activities are leading to structural damage to roads and existing utilities or weakening of soil structure of the enveloping strata, or unregulated discharge of construction wastes on the road surface leading to deposition of waste materials on the pavements and surrounding drains weakening them in turn.
To correct the situation, PWD has decided to develop the Standard Operating Procedures for application of Trenchless in Developing and Maintaining Subsurface Utility Networks under PWD Roads in New Delhi and entrusted this task to IndSTT. Under the assignment IndSTT is required to prepare the SoP for Trenchless Technology and suggest the Remedial Measures for Road Restoration (RMRR) after completion of work and also in case of road settlement / cave-in.
IndSTT intends to develop the desired SoP through the deliberations of its various committees and interested stakeholders so that an all inclusive SoP and RMRR are developed. The primary objectives would be to address the possible failure scenarios like technique selection failures, project design failure, site investigation failure, operator failure, machine failure, installed material failure, or structural failure while covering the issues of technique / operator / equipment specific requirements of applicable techniques.
IndSTT hopes that the resultant document set shall be a long term assistance to the Road Managing agencies in maintaining the assets and at the same time protect trenchless technology and the service providers from such bad publicity. IndSTT intends to promote the safe working procedures as evolved in this process to the whole nation for the best possible output.
IndSTT invites all the major stakeholders of the trenchless industry to join this effort as their involvement would immensely benefit the proposed deliberations and development activities at one hand and provide insight of their viewpoint for inclusion in the documents. As the recommendations may have impact over the Indian trenchless operations in future, their involvement is important and therefore invited.
For more details you may contact:
Prof. Niranjan Swarup,
Executive Director,
Indian Society for Trenchless Technology,
908, Hemkunt Chambers,
89, Nehru Place, New Delhi 110 019
Email: niranjanswarup@indstt.org