MEA starts drilling biggest wiring tunnel

BANGKOK, Sept 5 (TNA) -- The Metropolitan Electricity Authority starts its tunnelling machine to drill the country's biggest tunnel for power transmission lines worth 878 million baht in Chidlom area for the sake of power security and beautiful landscape. MEA assistant governor Thepsak Thitaraksa said the project would expand the network of underground high-power transmission lines in Bangkok. The new tunnel connects to the existing tunnel for 230-kilovolt transmission lines from the Bang Kapi station to the Chidlom station. It will be 3.6 metres in diameter and stretch 1.3 kilmetres long at the depth of about 40 metres from Chidlom to Sarasin Road and Ploenchit Road. The Bang Kapi-Chidlom tunnel is 2.6 metres in diameter. The tunnelling machine is advanced for its "shielded tunnelling" function, being capable of drilling tunnels, installing tunnel walls and drilling curved sections of tunnels. The new tunnel will be equipped with drainage pump, fire alarm and fire-fighting ventilation systems. Its entrance has a freeboard allowance of 1.2 metres. Its construction is set for completion in 2020. "The expansion of the underground high-power transmission network will cope with rising power demand in downtown business districts. It will promote power security, reduce the physical risks of conventional elevated power lines and improve the landscape of Bangkok," Mr Thepsak said. (TNA)