TAIym-MIT WPU Collaboration

There is tremendous scope for tunnel engineering and underground construction in India, thanks to booming infrastructural developments. However fresh civil engineers in India are not aware of the opportunities in tunneling and underground construction. I discussed about this fact with Sandeep Singh Nirmal, Chair TAIym. This discussion paved the road for One day workshop on ‘Developments and Career Opportunities in Tunneling and Underground Construction’.  It was jointly organized by MIT-World Peace University, Pune , Tunneling Association of India (TAI) and Tunneling Association of India Young Members (TAIym) on 12th June 2019. It was attended by about 120 fresh and working engineers. Sandeep Singh Nirmal,  with other TAIym members – Mr. Ankur Chauhan, Mr. Nandan Kumar and Mr. Anshul Sindhwani took lot of efforts to make this workshop a grand success.

Second activity of TAIym took place after exactly one month. It was visit to Mumbai Metro line – 3, package 2 (CSMT to Grant road) site.  As planned by Tunneling Association Of India young members (TAIym) in association with MIT WPU amp; Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), young members of the organization were invited for one day site visit to MMRCL MML-3, Package 2 (CSMT to Grant Road) on 12 th July 2019. It was great exposure for MIT-WPU students. Our students got opportunity to interact with  Mr. Klaus Munz (Technical Consultant – Tunnel & NATM), Mr. Eugene Olenchik (Construction Manager Tunnels) and Mr. Nandan Kumar (Planning Manager).  This visit facilitated our students thorough understanding of operation of TBM. This exposure will go long-way in building the career of these  students. I am thankful to Sandeep and his team for sparing their valuable time from their hectic schedule for planning and organizing such wonderful activities. I assure them that we will be glad to extend our cooperation to TAIym in all their future activities.

TAIym is a organization aiming to improve qualities in tunnel engineers with the help of various programs, practical industrial problems and site visits. Under the guidance of Sandeep Nirmal sir, I had visited Odisha (Koraput). In this site visit, I have studied an entire existing alignment of railway and possible proposed alignments for new railway track. The main purpose of the visit is to eliminate those roots or sites which are impractical or unfeasible and to select best suitable alignment for proposed railway track. We have visited all the existing tunnels. Furthermore I come to know about various new things like, how the alignments for railway doubling projects are selected, what factors are being considered while selecting proposed portal locations. The entire site visit was very helpful for my career in tunneling. We are fortunate as we are getting guidance of such experts because of TAIym. TAIym is buiding a bond between Industry and students and also exploring the world of tunneling to young engineers.

Tunnel infrastructure is a major contributor to the country’s development and in developing country like India. There is a lot of projects going on in this sector. The Tunnel Association of India Young Members is a great platform for our young generation. TAIym keeps arranging programs for new tunnelers. We very lucky that we got a chance to site visit at Koraput Odisa with TAIym Expertise. This gives us lot of information about the Portal locations, alternate alignments, railway tunnel excavation, drainage system around tunnel portals, challenges faced during and after construction, how to deal with problems, methods of construction, equipment’s, how geology affects construction time etc. As a result of this site visit we are directly connected with the people in the industry and hence we found out exactly what the industry need and how should we proceed to develop expertise. This organization is working hard to make new engineers capable.