Bimalgarh ROB, Odisha | National Highway Authority India
The project entails the rehabilitation and upgrading of the existing two-lane road to a four-lane highway, covering a 53 km stretch from Koida to Rajamunda on NH-215 (renumbered as NH-520) under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) scheme. This initiative aims to boost connectivity, safety, and traffic efficiency in the region, which is vital for the transportation network in Odisha.
One of the critical structures along this section is the Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Bimalgarh, located at chainage 245+936. The ROB was developed to provide uninterrupted passage over an existing railway line, eliminating the delays and hazards associated with level crossings. Given the high volume of industrial and commercial traffic in the area, the ROB at Bimalgarh is a vital infrastructure upgrade, ensuring safer and faster transportation for both local and long-distance traffic. This bridge not only enhances the efficiency of travel on NH-520 but also supports the socio-economic growth of nearby regions by facilitating smoother movement of goods and people, aligning with NHDP’s objective of providing a modern and sustainable roadway network in India.
This reinforced soil wall of ROB bridge was a challenge due to the difficult topography & soil conditions.
TechFab India Industries Ltd. provided a reinforced soil wall (RSW) solution to address the significant height differences between the Koida (A1) and Rajamunda (A2) sides of the structure. Due to the height exceeding 15 meters on the Rajamunda side, as per IRC SP: 102-2014 guidelines, an intermediate berm was required.
The RSW with two types of height class were proposed at Bimalgarph ROB chainage 245+936:
(a) 15.6 m of maximum height of single tier RSW at Koida side
(b) 22.8 m of Maximum height of two tiered RSW at Rajamunda side with 2 m wide berm
The connection between the RSW panels and geogrids was achieved using a loop and toggle connection system, ensuring effective reinforcement and stability. This design not only met the project requirements but also provided a durable and efficient solution for the challenging topography of the site, ensuring the long-term performance of the structure.
The two-tiered reinforced soil wall at Bimalgarh ROB, with a total facing area of 45,000 square meters and 2,26,000 square meters of geogrids supplied by Techfab Industries, successfully addressed the project’s challenging height and stability requirements. This innovative solution ensured long-term structural integrity and enhanced the overall project performance.
