Wednesday, September 1, 2021
Heat map analysis for COVID-19 underway at the Intergrated Command & Control Centre of Prayagraj Smart City.
The control room of Jhansi Smart City.
L&T's SWC team receiving the appreciation certificate for Pune Smart City.
TECHNOLOGY is changing the pace and face of Indian cities. L&T’s Smart World & Communication (SWC) vertical has once again proved its leadership position in Smart Cities sector with the roles it has played in three more cities. PRAYAGRAJ Faced with an astronomical rise in COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh with the advent of the second wave, the administration tasked SWC to help handle the emergency. SWC was asked to design and implement a GIS-based solution to create containment zones and undertake heat map analysis to effectively control the spread of the pandemic. Considering the exigency, SWC repurposed the priority works that were being carried out by the Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC), prepared several new SOPs and implemented those to help city administrators in efficient decision-making for COVID relief measures. GIS was utilised to create containment zones, CCTVs for surveillance of isolation centres and containment zones as well as detection of violation of masking and social distancing. All the city municipal wards were segregated as per sanitary wards for effective monitoring and comparisons. Next, for each sanitary ward, a cluster containment strategy based on heat map generation was employed. On the basis of the GIS-based implementation, the datasets were analysed for containment zone-wise positive cases, trend mapping of positive case for each containment zone, clusters with high caseloads, sanitary ward-wise weekly comparison of heat maps and identification of stubborn infection areas for better enforcement. All this helped Prayagraj, which was one of the most affected districts, to become the fastest to curb the spread of COVID-19, reducing the number of cases drastically within a mere 4.5 weeks. In appreciation, Mr Ravi Ranjan, the CEO Prayagraj Smart City Ltd, awarded SWC an appreciation certificate on 16 June and Mr Kavindra Pratap Singh, IG Police – Prayagraj Range, awarded an appreciation certificate on 14 July. It may be recalled that SWC has been implementing the Smart City Mission in Prayagraj since 2018, along with an operation and maintenance scope for six years. JHANSI The Jhansi Smart City project in Uttar Pradesh comprised design, supply, installation, testing & commissioning of an ICCC with smart elements such as video surveillance, solid waste management, environmental sensors, adaptive traffic control system, city wi-fi, Enterprise GIS, public address & emergency call box system, variable message sign and central web portal. The scope also includes five-year comprehensive operation and maintenance. The project commenced on 3 July 2020 and was completed exactly nine months later, i.e. on 3 April 2021. As part of L&T’s CSR drive, the project team also renovated the government schools in the nearby villages and developed smart classrooms. Pleased with this, Jhansi Smart City Limited (JSCL) awarded two appreciation certificates to SWC. The certificate for the smart class lab development was given by Mr Avinash Kumar Rai (CEO – JSCL) and the certificate for school infrastructure development was handed over by Mr Raj Kumar Viswakarma (City Education Officer – Jhansi). PUNE The scope of the Pune Smart City Project was to set up a network of smart elements along with city wi-fi, emergency call box, public address system, environmental sensors, variable messaging display and Smart City Operations Centre (SCOC). The project began on in January 2017 and was completed on 31 January 2021. The project team has been appreciated for their efforts to continue the operation and maintenance of the project despite the hurdles, challenges and difficulties posed by pandemic- induced lockdowns through regular follow-up and by exhibiting high-level managerial skills in project maintenance. In appreciation, on 6 July, the SWC project team was awarded a certificate by the CEO of Pune Smart City Development Corporation Ltd.
by Angela Nagarajan at 3:53 PM in Article Thursday, August 12, 2021
The greenfield Farabi Complex set up and commissioned by LTHE.
FOR L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering (LTHE), 8 July was a red-letter day. For on this day, its n-Paraffin & Derivatives Complex for Farabi Petrochemicals in Saudi Arabia achieved commercial completion, reaching an important milestone that had been in the making for nearly four years. One of the world’s leading producers of n-paraffin and linear alkyl benzene, Farabi Petrochemicals Company awarded the contract to LTHE in 2017. LTHE’s first large-scale greenfield petrochemical complex project in Saudi Arabia, the contract mandated setting up a new n-paraffin and linear alkyl benzene facility in the Yanbu industrial area. A large and complex undertaking, the project involved setting up an integrated facility with main process units, downstream units, utility units, tank farm, off-plot pipelines and infrastructure facilities including an administrative facility, technical building, laboratory, maintenance building, fire station, kitchen, canteen, and gate houses with visitor facilities. Spread over an area of 1800m x 430m comprising 19 process units, 16 utility units, and offsite facilities, the project was a constant race against time with a schedule of 32 months – from start to start-up – and necessitated mobilisation of a huge workforce (approx. 7000 at peak) of different nationalities. LTHE divided the project into four areas with each declared as a sub-project. Dedicated teams were assigned to each area to execute engineering, procurement, construction, and project management. The project team harnessed the latest digitalisation tools to plan and monitor an integrated EPCC schedule and the interfaces with all stakeholders. All the process units (linear alkyl benzene, n-paraffin & specialty oils) were commissioned progressively from August 2020 and have been under normal operations since October 2020. The commercial completion is especially praiseworthy in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which, while threatening, did not adversely affect site operations or the project timelines. Further, the record of 35.1 million safe man-hours on the project stands as proof of LTHE’s commitment to safety and excellence in health, safety & environment.
by Angela Nagarajan at 7:18 PM in Article Tuesday, August 10, 2021
The nerve centre from which Cyclone Yaas was managed.
An official analysing the progress of Yaas.
TECHNOLOGY can make the difference between life and death. L&T Smart World & Communication (SWC) arm is doing just that with its Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS). The vital smart solution helped minimise casualties when Cyclone Yaas made landfall on India’s east coast this May. EWDS is a communication network that integrates several communication technologies – including Digital Mobile Radio, Satellite Based Mobile Data Voice Terminal, Mass Messaging System, Alert Tower Siren Systems, and Universal Communication Interface. ODISHA EWDS was deployed across 22 coastal blocks of Odisha in the districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri. It connected the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) with five District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs), 22 Block Emergency Operation Centres (BEOCs), 14 Fish Landing Centres (FLCs), and 113 cyclone shelters. On getting a cue that Yaas was building up in the Bay of Bengal, SWC activated the system and made its team man the SEOC and the DEOC concerned round-the-clock. To prepare to combat the cyclone, team undertook several activities, including feeding in phone numbers of all the support services into the Mass Messaging System. EWDS alerted the authorities in time, enabling them to disseminate critical, urgent information to the multitudes residing in the coastal regions. The authorities were also able to engage with disaster management officials, relief workers and volunteers so to keep them ready. As instructed by the State Emergency Office, EWDS sounded alerts at hourly intervals in all the five coastal districts prone to the cyclone. As many as 294 alerts, along with video clips of live alert tone and announcement, were sounded. This apart, 267 live announcements were made at half-hourly intervals, asking people to shift to nearby cyclone shelter. Thanks to EWDS, Odisha, once known for high casualties during natural calamities, was able to minimise the loss of lives this time. Designed and commissioned by SWC, project EWDS is currently being maintained for a period of five years.
ANDHRA PRADESH
SWC team swung into action as soon as an alert came from the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) of Cyclone Yaas’ approach and its possible impact on three coastal districts –. Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. The team established Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) connectivity between the sites and SEOC, SEOC to DEOC/MEOC and MPCS and kept the same on standby. Siren systems were also activated and the team demonstrated its effective operations to APSDMA officials. Next, predefined messages received from the administration were broadcast across the three coastal districts. With Yaas not inflicting any major tragedy on the state, the administration lauded SWC for operationalising EWDS in managing the natural disaster.
by Angela Nagarajan at 4:39 PM in Article Tuesday, August 10, 2021
The SWC project team receiving an appreciation certificate from the concerned authority.
L&T’s Smart World & Communication (SWC), which is setting up a telecommunication system for the Nagpur Metro Rail, has completed 500,000 safe manhours in the project and thus, earning kudos from Indian and international organisations. The scope of the project encompasses design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing & commissioning of a telecommunication system for 37 stations, two depots, an operation control centre and a back-up control centre. The telecommunications system is to have fibre optic transmission system, public address system, passenger information display system, telephone system, master clock system, closed circuit television, CDRS, access control and intrusion deduction, tetra radio system and T-Scada. With SWC completing 500,000 safe manhours despite the prevailing pandemic situation, the Nagpur Metro Rail Project authorities on 30 June feted the project team with an appreciation certificate. Mr R Ramanathan (Project Director) and Mr Md Amanullah (Chief Safety In-charge) handed over the certificate to Mr Manoj Gandhi (Dy Project Manager – SWC) and Mr Chettan Dambhare (Safety Manager – SWC). Earlier this year, SWC won Gold Safety Awards from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, UK, for the same project. The project started in May 2017 and is expected to be completed by August 2022. EXPEDITIOUS ELECTRIFICATION Those travelling on the Konkan Railway can now expect a speedier ride. For, L&T’s Transportation Infrastructure arm has completed the electrification of Roha - Ratnagiri section. Part of the Roha (Maharashtra) – Verna (Goa) railway electrification project, the completed section encompasses overhead electrification of 258 track km (TKM), including electrification of 56 bridges and 37 tunnels totalling 6 and 39 TKM, respectively. The scope of work also included commissioning a traction substation at Kalambani, three sectioning posts and eight sub-sectioning posts, signalling modification for 13 stations and telecom works for 19 stations. For first time in Indian Railways’ mainline, L&T has used spring type auto tensioning device on this section. Mr A K Jain (Commissioner of Railway Safety – Central Circle) conducted an inspection of the newly electrified section on 30-31 March, followed by a speed-trial by an electric loco at 118 kmph on the second day. Mr Jain was accompanied by Mr S C Gupta (Director – Way & Works), Mr D N Mahajan (Chief Project Manager), Mr L Prakash (GM) from Konkan Railway and Mr Prashant Soni (Chief Project Manager) and other members of L&T’s project team. Mr Jain was all praise for the works executed by L&T.
by Angela Nagarajan at 4:38 PM in Article Tuesday, August 10, 2021
L&T team during the DBM laying.
YET again, L&T has set a new benchmark in the construction industry. On 11 June, its Transportation Infrastructure arm laid 15,000 MT of Dense Bituminous Macadam (DBM) in an eight-lane dual carriageway of 18.85m width in a span of just 69 hours. This is equivalent to laying 2 km of DBM. This record was achieved on the Madhya Pradesh Expressway Project’s Delhi-Vadodara Expressway package. When completed, the highway will be the India’s longest expressway under the flagship Bharat Mala programme of National Highways Authority of India. The scope of work broadly includes a 25-km eight-lane greenfield expressway. It is being constructed as a perpetual flexible pavement and consists of 89 structures. This project is to be completed in 24 months. The record DBM laying was a power-packed effort, where men, minds and machines were put to the test in a race against time. Two plants of 260 and 135 tonnes per hour capacity, three asphalt pavers with multiplex sensors, three pneumatic tyre rollers, four tandem rollers and 16 dumpers were used to achieve the target. HIGH-SPEED IN HINTERLAND Soon, many villagers in remote Maharashtra will have the world at their fingertips. Thanks to the completion of Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) project undertaken by L&T’s Smart World & Communication (SWC). The project scope included installation and commissioning of internet connectivity covering 26 Secondary Switching Areas, 85 block panchayats, 218 Optical Line Termination and 4925 Optical Network Termination. Work started in August 2016 with completion deadline being July 2021. Stepping up to the plate, SWC team completed the project ahead of schedule despite the pandemic-induced lockdowns last year and this year. Pleased at the project completion, Mr Hawa Singh Jakhar (CGM & Project Head – BBNL) awarded an appreciation certificate to L&T’s SWC team.
by Angela Nagarajan at 10:20 AM in Article
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