LiDAR survey begins for Delhi-Varanasi high speed rail corridor

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New Delhi, 10 January: The LiDAR survey for the Delhi-Varanasi High Speed โ€‹โ€‹Rail Corridor carried out from Greater Noida on Sunday where a helicopter equipped with state-of-the-art aerial LiDAR and imagery sensors took the first flight and captured data related to ground survey.

National High Speed โ€‹โ€‹Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is adopting the Light Detection and Ranging Survey (LIDAR) technology, which provides all ground details and data in 3-4 months, while normally it takes 10โ€“12 months.

However, ground survey is an important activity for any linear infrastructure project because the survey provides an accurate description of the areas around the alignment. This technique uses a combination of laser data, GPS data, flight parameters, and real photographs to deliver accurate survey data.

During the aerial LiDAR survey, an area of โ€‹โ€‹300 m (150 m on either side) is being surveyed in the vicinity of the proposed alignment for the purpose of survey. After collection of data for vertical (vertical) and horizontal (horizontal) alignment, location of structures, stations and depots, land requirement for corridors, identification of project affected plots and structures, right of way etc. 3D topographic maps of the 50 m corridor will be available on either side of the proposed alignment at scale.

As per the nine standard benchmarks set by the Survey of India in the region, 86 master control points and 350 secondary control points have been installed and these coordinates are being used to fly aircraft on the Delhi-Varanasi HSR Corridor alignment. To provide clear pictures of structures, trees and other small ground details, 60 megapixel cameras are being used for the LiDAR survey.

NHSRCL has been tasked to prepare a detailed project report of seven high-speed rail corridors and the LiDAR survey technique will be used for ground survey in all corridors. The detailed project report for the Delhi Varanasi High Speed โ€‹โ€‹Rail Corridor has been submitted to the Ministry of Railways on October 29, 2020.

The proposed plan of Delhi Varanasi High Speed โ€‹โ€‹Rail Corridor will connect the National Capital Territory of Delhi with major cities like Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Prayagraj, Bhadohi, Varanasi and Ayodhya.

The main corridor from Delhi to Varanasi (about 800 km) will also connect to Ayodhya. The High Speed โ€‹โ€‹Rail (HSR) route will also connect the proposed international airport at Jewar in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.