Friday, April 3, 2009

Farakka Barrage

Farakka Barrage .This is one of the biggest project Independant India Constructed in 60's.

What is Barrage. A barrage is the structure constructed on a river which has multiple usage of river flow as well as provision for vehicular movement also included in the construction.

Farakka is located in the borders of banglaDesh.erstwhile East Pakistan. Farakka is located on the banks of River Ganges. On the other side of the bank is Khejuriaghat. The width of River here is 1.5 K.M. The mode of transport for crossing the river is Stream ferries. The rail link from Calcutta terminates at Farakka and the passengers will be ferried to other side Khejuriaghat and train journey will be resumed.The Cars and jeeps will also ferried to other side.
The main important point is this is vital point for connecting North eastern States.
The hoogly river o f calcutta is filled with back water of Sea.There is a proposal to divert some quantity of Ganges water into this to make Hoogly river pleasent.There is very urgent need of Transport fecility for the defence purpose.
The barrage was designed to divert some quantity of water to River Hoogly and Road and Rail transport fecility.
Barrage :- The barrage length is about 1.5 KM and having provision of 4 way lane and 2 way rail line.
Provision given for raising the river water level to certain level so as to divert part of Ganges water to Hoogly river through Diversion Canal.A regulator was constructed on Farakka side .
It has pass thro Junghipur barrage.A very large Guide bund was constructed on Khejuria ghat side to prevent flood water enter into the nearby villages at the time flood as well as due rise in the water level.

The work of Farakka Barrage was started in the year 1965 and I was recruited there in 1967. When I joined in the project 3 piers on the left ( Khejuriaghat) side and 3 piers on Right(Farakka) side was completed.and further 12 piers were on under construction in left side ,out of 108 piers.

Two agencies were involved for construction. NPCC (National Project Construction Company, Govt of India under taking), and H.C.C ( Hindusthan construction Company, a Bombay Firm).

A Russian firm was doing experiment on Cellular cofferdam method. The Cellular cofferdam is a temporary method of of diverting river water in the middle of river so as to enable construction of barrage can be taken up without diverting river. The river water can flow on the both the sides leaving middle portion dry to take up the construction work.


In the two years of experiment of cellular cofferdam was failed miserably. In the mean time the traditional method of constructing cofferdam was discussed with the contractors HCL ltd and instead of construction of planned bays of bays of barrage for the year 1967-68 the area covered for construction will be doubled and the company will be given bonus amount of extra 1 lakh per bay for bays completed over the target projected for that year.

The earthen cofferdam was completed for in two phases ie first after completing as per programme so has to commence the work by Company and further coffer dam work continued so as to cover further bays. In that way two season work was completed in one season.

After seeing the sucess of this method next season work was completed in this way. In history of India this is first time a Project was completed in before time. The employees were given one

month salary as bonus/ incentive ,what ever you call.

No comments: