Southern Railways Structural Assessment of Royapuram Railway
| Endobot
Tamil Nadu
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Southern Railways required structural and hydraulic assessment of the Royapuram stormwater canal crossing below the active Royapuram/Beach Station– Gummidipoondi railway corridor. Initiated under the leadership of Mr. Elangoavan, ADEN Railways, the project assessed the historic brick-arch drainage asset to support decisions on continued usage, diversion, pumping, rehabilitation, or reconstruction for future railway infrastructure works.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Southern Railways required structural and hydraulic assessment of the Royapuram stormwater canal crossing below the active Royapuram/Beach Station– Gummidipoondi railway corridor. Initiated under the leadership of Mr. Elangoavan, ADEN Railways, the project assessed the historic brick-arch drainage asset to support decisions on continued usage, diversion, pumping, rehabilitation, or reconstruction for future railway infrastructure works.
TECHNOLOGY USED
EndoRaft-based inspection for large stormwater canal assessmentEndoCam for internal visual inspection GIS mapping for alignment verification and location documentation Sludge profiling and flow-velocity estimation for hydraulic performance review
PROJECT EXECUTION
The inspection involved a large stormwater canal crossing located below active railway infrastructure, with flowing water, sludge accumulation, restricted access and the need for reliable internal visual documentation. Solinas executed the assessment using a floating raft/endoscopy-based inspection setup with high-resolution video capture, DVR recording and mechanical inspection tools. The team mapped access points, verified canal alignment, documented internal observations and assessed flow behaviour across multiple inspected reaches. GIS mapping was used to record coordinates and distances, while sludge profiling and velocity assessment helped quantify hydraulic restrictions. The inspection also reviewed brick-arch sections, culvert crossings, weak zones, holes, foreign material obstruction and areas requiring desilting or further structural evaluation.
FINDINGS & IMPACT
The inspection confirmed that the Royapuram stormwater canal crossing is generally serviceable, with no major defect affecting overall structural integrity. However, significant sludge accumulation, reduced flow capacity, sack obstruction, weak zones, holes, brick protrusion, erosion and crack observations were documented. The findings helped Southern Railways verify asset condition, plan desilting and targeted repairs, evaluate diversion/pumping options, and avoid unnecessary reconstruction. 50-85 % sludge accumulation levels identified
50-85 %
sludge accumulation levels identified
100%
Structural Assessment
PROJECT BENEFITS
Structural Condition Clarity: Verified that the historic crossing remained generally serviceable while identifying localized deterioration. Hydraulic Performance Insight: Quantified sludge buildup and reduced flow capacity across critical conduit sections. Proactive Planning: Provided alignment, connection and condition data for future construction & diversion planning. Reduced Infrastructure Risk: Supported informed decisions with minimal disruption.