In a significant move to enhance safety and accelerate progress on critical infrastructure, Telangana’s Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy are scheduled to inaugurate a cutting-edge helicopter-borne ‘VTEM Plus Magnetic Geophysical Survey’ on Monday, November 3rd. This innovative survey is designed to thoroughly assess the remaining sections of the Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project (AMRP) tunnel, specifically looking for any geological weaknesses like shear zones or hidden water bodies.
This decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident on February 22nd, when Tunnel 1 of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) – a key component of the AMRP – suffered a devastating collapse. The accident tragically claimed the lives of eight individuals and led to the inundation of 2.5 kilometers of the tunnel, submerging a 130-meter-long Tunnel Bore Machine (TBM) under a mixture of debris and water.
The advanced aerial survey was strongly recommended by numerous tunnel experts as a crucial step forward. It will be conducted by the esteemed National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), bringing their specialized expertise to the project.
Describing the process, irrigation officials explained that the survey involves a helicopter flying with a specialized 24-meter diameter transmitter loop suspended beneath it. This system sends electromagnetic signals deep into the earth, creating detectable ‘eddies.’ These signals are then reflected and recorded by a smaller receiver loop, effectively mapping over 200 kilometers of the tunnel’s path. The insights gained from this comprehensive survey will be instrumental in adapting excavation methods, ensuring that future progress is both safe and sustainable.