Tunnel Water Proofing with Mirai WPM-PVC MEMBRANE (Complying to BIS 15909:2020)
Zoji La Tunnel is 9.5 m wide, 7.57 m high and 14.2 km long, horseshoe-shaped single-tube, 2 lane road tunnel at the height of 11,575 feet (3,528 m) above sea level which passes under the Zoji La pass in the Himalayas between Ganderbal of Kashmir (J&K) and Drass town in Kargil district of Ladakh.
Project
Zojila Bi-Directional Road Tunnel Project
Location
Jammu & Kashmir
Client
NHIDCL
- Main Client: NHIDCL (National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation is a fully owned company of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India. The company promotes, surveys, establishes, designs, builds, operates, maintains and upgrades National Highways and Strategic Roads including interconnecting roads in parts of the country which share international boundaries with neighboring countries. The regional connectivity so enhanced would promote cross border trade and commerce and help safeguard India’s international borders. - Main Contractor: Megha Engineering
Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) is a multi-sector infrastructure company the MEIL has placed itself in a numero uno position by proving its capabilities in executing several engineering and infrastructure projects in the public and private sectors at a breakneck speed without compromising on quality. The MEIL grew multi-fold by acquiring different companies across the globe, over the years. - PMC: ICT AIAPL JV LLP
ICT is a leading consultancy organization in the transport sector and has successfully undertaken over 800 prestigious consultancy assignments under International Competitive Bidding in over 50 countries of Asia, Africa, Europe, the North America, the Pacific and the Middle East, to the satisfaction of the clients and the International Funding Agencies.
NHIDCL and Navyuga encountered significant challenges in selecting a reliable waterproofing solution for the Zoji La Bi-directional Tunnel in Sonamarg, J&K. The solution needed to meet BIS specifications, withstand extreme weather conditions, and ensure a 100-year lifespan. Given the harsh environmental conditions, including temperatures dropping to sub-zero levels, it was crucial to implement a highly durable and resilient waterproofing system capable of long-term performance.
Amidst extensive efforts, no other provider could deliver a waterproofing solution that met the rigorous technical and performance standards required for this critical infrastructure project. Understanding the project's complexity, we engineered an innovative and highly durable waterproofing system, precisely tailored to their needs.
Our solution featured PVC membrane designed for a 100-year lifespan, fully compliant with BIS specifications, ensuring unmatched durability and resilience against extreme weather conditions. This advanced approach not only resolved their challenges but also reinforced confidence in our expertise. As a result, NHIDCL and Megha entrusted us with the waterproofing responsibilities for the prestigious Zoji La bi-directional tunnel.
This milestone exemplifies our unwavering commitment to engineering excellence, innovative problem-solving, and delivering customized, high-performance solutions for the most demanding infrastructure projects.
We provided NHIDCL and Megha with a Pressure Release Waterproofing System specifically designed for tunnel construction. The system comprises:
- PVC Membrane (Mirai WPM, 2.0 mm thick): A robust waterproofing layer offering long-lasting protection against water ingress and structural deterioration.
- Geotextile (MIRAI GTX500, 500 GSM): A high-strength, non-woven polypropylene geotextile that enhances drainage and protects the membrane from damage during installation and operation.
PVC membrane waterproofing is particularly effective in tunnels constructed using methods like NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method), which often encounter high-pressure aquifers. These membranes act as barriers against water intrusion, preventing corrosion and deterioration, ensuring long-term durability.
Project Statistics:
- Total area to be waterproofed in our scope : 2 lac sqm
- Types of tunnels : Highway Tunnel
- Total amount of MIRAI WPM used : 2 lac sqm
- Total amount of MIRAI GTX used : 2 lac sqm
- System installed as per DVS 2212 guidelines by trained and certified PVC welders.
