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Major geological hurdle cleared at SLBC tunnel
In Short
- Excavation picks up pace
- Tunnel 79% complete
- 9.1 km work remains
- 700m excavated in six months
- Daily pace reaches 7–8m
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Engineers and technical personnel conducting surveying and monitoring work inside the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel following the successful crossing of a major geological hurdle.
Hyderabad: Excavation work on the Srisailam Left Bank Canal tunnel has crossed a major geological hurdle, paving the way for faster construction and deployment of additional equipment, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Sunday.
Reviewing irrigation projects in erstwhile Nalgonda district alongside elected representatives and senior officials, Uttam focused on the SLBC tunnel, which is expected to deliver over 30 TMC of water to upland areas.
Officials reported that around 700 metres of excavation were completed over five to six months, comprising 450 metres from the outlet and 250 metres from the inlet while negotiating an unstable shear zone.
The 43.968-km main tunnel is approximately 79 per cent complete, leaving 9.1 km remaining. Uttam directed officials to maintain momentum while prioritizing worker safety over 20 km inside the tunnel.
Indian Army tunnel expert Col Parikshit Mehra explained that inlet excavation was initially slowed by weak rock, rock bursts, and safety concerns. The team installed 140-mm seamless pipes to create an umbrella canopy alongside reinforced ribs, staged excavation, and probe drilling.
The combined excavation rate currently averages seven to eight metres daily. A three-arm drilling boomer operates at the outlet, while another reaches the inlet in October alongside electric loaders and excavators. A German locomotive arriving by October end will improve muck removal over 21 km distances.
The construction cycle has dropped from 48 hours to 20–24 hours, with officials expecting a reduction to 10 hours from late October or early November. Uttam stated Tunnel 1 could achieve breakthrough by May–June 2028, directing timely completion of Tunnel 2, balancing reservoirs, and associated infrastructure. Tunnel 2, measuring 7.1 km, has resumed lining work after a prolonged interruption.
