Construction of a six-lane tunnel has started under the Babatpur Airport runway in Varanasi. NH-31 will be shifted as a tunnel and the runway will be extended to 4075 meters. The cost of the project is Rs 652 crore and CCTV and sentry posts will be installed for security.
These days, such an engineering miracle is taking shape on the land of Varanasi, seeing which in the coming years, people will count it among the most adventurous construction works of the country. For the first time, a runway will be built below which the road will pass and planes will fly from above. This change will give a new direction to the connectivity of not only Varanasi but the entire Purvanchal.
Construction of six lane tunnel started on Lucknow-Varanasi National Highway
The construction of a six-lane tunnel on the Lucknow National Highway in Varanasi has officially started. First of all, excavation is being done on a large scale to prepare the base level. This tunnel is being built from Babatpur intersection near the airport towards Basni. The big thing is that after the completion of the construction of the tunnel, the runway of Babatpur Airport will pass over this tunnel. That means there will be movement of vehicles below and planes will run on the runway above.
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There will be high-tech security arrangements in the tunnel
Keeping in mind the safety of passengers and vehicles, modern facilities are being included in the tunnel, which include:
- CCTV cameras inside the tunnel
- Sentry posts (security booths) on both sides
- Dedicated Drainage System
- Sumpwell to collect water
Due to this, the tunnel will remain safe and operational even during monsoon or heavy rains.
Runway of airport will increase, planes will be able to land even in fog
Under the airport expansion plan, work on new terminal, multistorey parking and runway expansion is going on at a fast pace.
- Current runway length: 2745 meters
- After expansion: 4075 meters (about one and a half times)
By increasing the runway, planes will be able to land even in zero visibility i.e. heavy fog. At present, planes face difficulty in landing in dense fog.
There will be a new runway in place of NH-31
Due to runway expansion, a part of National Highway-31 is coming under the runway. For this reason, Babatpur intersection will be closed and a new runway will be built there. As an alternative:
- 2.89 km long fourlane approach road
- 450 meter long and 26 meter wide six lane tunnel
This road passing between three villages will strengthen the connectivity of both the airport and the highway.
Rs 362 crore spent only on tunnel
Total estimated cost of the project: Rs 652.64 crore
- Tunnel and related construction work: Rs 362 crore
- Shed for protection from rain on the approach road
- Drain and utility duct construction
- Deploying paramilitary forces in sentry posts
The tunnel will be monitored 24 hours a day through monitor screens and high-tech cameras.
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