KOLKATA, 26 JULY: The railways’ engineering public sector undertaking (PSU), RITES, is set to push new boundaries with Kolkata's Hooghly riverfront development project.

The pilot project, which is slated to be kicked off by chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee on 2 August, will use hot-rolled steel sheet piling technology to create a land mass of around 20 m all along the river, even during high tide. It will be the first time that this high-end technology has been used in eastern India.

"We will use z-shaped sheet piles, which are extremely popular in Europe and West Africa, where they are used in the construction of metro railway channels to create small islands in the sea. The piles for the Hooghly riverfront project will be 750 mm wide, 18 m long and 250 mm deep. It will be a continuous steel structure manufactured in a z-shape. The entire bank of the Hooghly river, from Bajekadamtala Ghat to Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority's (KMDA) Millennium Park, will be turned into a solid earth mass, enabling us to construct and develop the stretch," said Mr D C Mitra, project co-ordinator of RITES.

According to senior RITES officials, the initial plan to drive the steel piles with a crane from Strand Road was abandoned due to traffic congestion and the Circular Railway tracks.

"We have found another solution, which is to place cranes on barges and use vibro-hammers to drive in the piles. By shifting from the traditional hammering process to the vibration-driving method, we will ensure that the alignment of the piles is kept intact. Out of the 18 m of the piles, 12 m will be driven inside the river bank and 6 m will be left to create the boulevard," said a senior RITES official.

The Rs 36-crore pilot project will include the construction of a boulevard, including steel sheet piling, land filing, and the creation of a beautified pathway.

"There is hardly anywhere to sit, relax, or walk along the Hooghly riverfront other than the three parks. The pilot project will cover a stretch of 900 m, connected to Millennium Park I and II and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's (KMC) park, giving people a walkway and relaxation zone of 3.5 km. We also have plans to construct foot bridges allowing for the smooth movement of people headed for ferry services and immersion," added Mr Mitra.

The project's second phase will see the reconstruction of ferry jetties, which will be expanded to make room for six steamers. Three Circular Railway stations, Prinsep Ghat, Eden Gardens, and Fairlie Place, will also be converted into three-storey modern station buildings, which will be used for commercial purposes by the railways.