SAFETY EVALUATION OF ADJOINING STRUCTURES IN URBAN AREAS DURING DEEP EXCAVATION: A CASE STUDY OF NAGPUR METRO-Paper

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The paper examines how deep excavation for Nagpur Metro’s Kasturchand Park station could affect nearby buildings and describes measures used to reduce that risk. Excavation in dense urban areas can cause ground movement and settlement, potentially damaging adjacent structures and utilities. The choice of support system depends on factors such as soil conditions, excavation depth, groundwater, and the sensitivity of nearby buildings.<br /><br />The case study focuses on a commercial building beside an MSEDCL office. To protect surrounding structures, Maharashtra Metro installed a secant pile wall around the commercial building before construction. The wall comprised 1.2 m diameter piles spaced at 1 m centres and extended to a depth of 13 m. The station excavation was approximately 9.5 m below ground level.<br /><br />The researchers modelled the excavation and adjoining building using MIDAS GTS NX 3D, applying a nonlinear static analysis with a Mohr–Coulomb soil model. The analysis estimated settlement of 165 mm without a support system, compared with 28 mm when secant piling was included, indicating a substantial reduction in predicted movement.<br /><br />The paper also reports that the neighbouring MSEDCL building and surrounding pavement showed no observed settlement, cracking, or other distress. The authors conclude that proactive installation of an appropriate support system helped protect nearby structures during construction. They emphasize that excavation support should be selected according to site-specific geotechnical conditions and the safety needs of surrounding buildings.

Keywords

deep excavation

Nagpur Metro

secant pile wall

ground settlement

urban construction

geotechnical analysis

MIDAS GTS NX

Mohr-Coulomb model

building protection

excavation support system