..::Advanced Constrction Technologies (P) Ltd::..

In Chennai, a new Metro Rail project is being envisaged by the Government of India. This is the largest public project in Tamilnadu with an investment of Rs 14,600 Crores (US$ 3.20 Billion).Phase 1 of this project envisages about 44Km of underground and over surface high speed state-of the art rail network. Out of this, about 24Km will be underground .There will be a total of 32 stations in the 2 corridors planned in Phase 1.The main hub of this entire project will be at the famous Central Station, which is one of the busiest places in Chennai. A huge underground station is being planned here with multilevel platforms and inter modal transport system for Metro, Bus and Railways. This will probably be the toughest station to build, as arterial roads intersect here with continuous traffic. It will a challenge to keep the traffic flowing during the deep excavation for the station.

ACT had already introduced the concept of using Silent Demolition using Hydraulic Crushers to CMRL(Chennai Metro Rail Limited) in the demolition of Old Police Quarters for Mannady Station of CMRL in Chennai ,earlier in June 2011.This method is new to Chennai and CMRL was convinced in using this method of excavator based hydraulic crusher for the rest of the project.

Concrete Crushers are silent demolition tools. No Vibration and very low noise is produced during the demolition process. This is the only method used in all develop countries for urban demolitions for primary demolition works within city limits.
Hydraulic Concrete Crushers are mechanical tools engaged for silent demolition works.
Powerful jaws are used to crush concrete/brick masonry/structural steel.
Hydraulic Concrete Crushers (HCC) are specified world-wide by leading Institutions and city authorities for Urban and Industrial demolition owing to its low noise, nil vibration, economical and faster execution. Cities like Hong Kong, London use only HCC for demolitions.
Hydraulic Crushers are used for all industrial structures demolition world wide.

Now in the Central station area of CMRL, there is an existing Multi storyed structure called Hotel Picnic which is a RCC framed structure of 30M height and about 12,000 Sq M of built up area. This structure is sandwiched between two famous landmark Heritage structures, viz The Rippon Building, the seat of Chennai Corporation and The Victoria Hall. Hotel Picnic is very close and between both these Heritage structures and hardly 10M clearance is available on either side of these beautiful Indo-Saracenic beauties. Organisations like INTACH who protect Heritage structures all over India ,are all quite concerned about this demolition since both these structures are more than 100 years old and made of masonry in lime mortar Any vibrations from the demolition will definitely be harmful to these structures.

After careful study of the structures, ACT had proposed to use the Hydraulic Crusher for the entire demolition of the Hotel Picnic. CMRL approved this method of demolition.

Two Volvo machines, one EC 240 BLC fitted with a Soosan Make Hydraulic Crusher and another EC 460BLC, UHR fitted with a 26M Kocureck triple boom and a MBI Hydraulic crusher CR26R have started the demolition work. This is the first time in Chennai, a High Reach Demolition machine of 26M reach is being used. Dust is controlled by a in-built water spray system in the High Reach Machine.

With the introduction of such safe demolition technologies, ACT strongly believes that our Heritage structures can be saved for our posterity and modern buildings can be built in place of old and dilapidated ones.

This is the first time a 26M High Reach Demolition machine is being used in Tamil Nadu. The following links may help you read more on these Heritage structures.
Ripon_Building Link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripon_Building)
Victoria_Public_Hall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Public_Hall)