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More than 20 tunnel boring machines were used simultaneously to expedite the tunnel work through 10 softeyes installed in diaphragm walls. Thanks to the cuttable nature of GFRP (glass fiber reinforced polymer) bars, TBMs can get in or out of shafts/stations in few minutes. Furthermore, 450 sets of active anchors were applied to retain walls during the excavation work. The anchors are also made of GFRP, hence the tendons can be excavated by any standard equipment, and no anchor removal is required Moreover, around 2.3 million Bartec couplers were installed to connect rebars in various parts of the concrete structures of the stations. Bartec is a bar-break performance system, designed to withstand an ultimate tensile performance of up to 800 MPa.
It is highly unlikely that any part of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link project is made of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP). The sea link, an eight-lane bridge completed around 2009, is primarily constructed from steel and concrete. News reports about recent related projects confirm the use of steel and other traditional materials, not GFRP.
Why Delhi Prefers FRP for Its Metro Expansion
More than just a public transport option, Delhi’s metro functions as the backbone of one of the largest and most active city transit networks in the world. With daily ridership in the millions and expansion projects constantly underway, infrastructure safety and efficiency have become critical concerns. Among the many materials used in construction and maintenance, Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) has emerged as the preferred choice. But why exactly is Delhi leaning toward FRP for its metro expansion?
1. Strength Without the Weight
Traditional materials like cast iron and concrete have long been used for manhole covers, gratings, and utility access points across metro projects. However, these materials are heavy, cumbersome, and prone to breakage under stress. Despite being considerably lighter, FRP matches or exceeds the structural performance of cast iron or concrete in terms of load capacity.This makes installation faster, reduces the need for heavy machinery, and allows workers to handle components safely, even in cramped underground spaces of metro tunnels.
2. Theft-Resistant and Cost-Efficient
Civic bodies across India continue to battle manhole theft, as cast iron covers are often lifted and sold as scrap, posing serious safety concerns and diverting public funds to repeated replacements. In metro projects, missing or broken covers can cause serious safety hazards for both workers and commuters. frp manhole cover solves this problem by having no resale value in the scrap market. Over time, this reduces maintenance costs, improves operational safety, and ensures uninterrupted services—making it an economically viable choice for large-scale projects like the Delhi Metro.
3. Durability in Harsh Urban Conditions
Delhi’s environment is challenging: scorching summers, heavy monsoons, and rising pollution levels put constant stress on public infrastructure. Cast iron rusts, while concrete cracks under temperature variations. FRP, on the other hand, is non-corrosive, non-reactive, and resistant to extreme weather conditions. It doesn’t warp, corrode, or degrade, ensuring a longer service life with minimal upkeep—an essential factor for metro infrastructure expected to last decades.