Delhi-Varanasi High Speed Rail Corridor has gathered momentum with commencement of LiDAR (Aerial Ground) survey on 10 January 2021.
The survey started from Greater Noida where a helicopter fitted with state-of-the-art Aerial LiDAR and imagery sensors took first flight and captured data related to ground survey.
The National High Speed Rail Corporation is adopting light detection and ranging survey (LiDAR) technology which provides all ground details and data in three to four months wherein this process normally takes 10-12 months.
The ground survey is a crucial activity for any linear infrastructure project as the survey provides accurate details of areas around the alignment. This technique uses a combination of laser data, GPS data, flight parameters and actual photographs to give accurate survey data.
During the Aerial LiDAR survey, 300 mtr (150 mtr on either side) of area around the proposed alignment is being captured for the survey purpose.
After collection of the data, three dimensional (3D) topographical map of 50 mtr corridor on either side of the proposed alignment on a scale of 1:2500 will be available for designing of vertical and horizontal alignment, structures, location of stations and depots, land requirement for the corridor, identification of project affected plots/ structures, right of way, among others.
As per the nine standard benchmarks set by the Survey of India in this field, 86 master control points and 350 secondary control points have been established and these coordinates are being used for flying the aircraft on Delhi-Varanasi HSR Corridor alignment.
To provide clear pictures of the structures, trees and other minute ground details, 60 megapixel cameras are being used for the LiDAR survey.
NHSRCL has been entrusted to prepare the detailed project reports for seven high-speed rail corridors and LiDAR survey technique will be used for ground survey in all the corridors.
The detailed project report (DPR) for Delhi Varanasi High-Speed Rail Corridor has been submitted to the Ministry of Railways on 29 October 2020.
The proposed plan for DVHSR Corridor will connect the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi with major cities like Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Lucknow, Raebareli, Prayagraj, Bhadohi, Varanasi and Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
The main corridor from Delhi to Varanasi (approximately 800 km) will also be connected to Ayodhya.
The HSR route will also connect the upcoming international airport at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.