Federation of Myanmar Engineering Societies
Myanmar Tunneling and Underground Space Committee
(MTUSC)
Tunneling and Development Works
Hla Baw
CEC, Fed. MES
Chair for MTUSC
5th October, 2024
Contents
(1) History of tunneling
(2) What is tunneling work
(3) Method of tunnel construction
(4) Some famous tunnel of the world
(5) Myanmar and tunneling organization
(6) Tunneling experience with Myanmar
(7) Future Plan of tunneling works in Myanmar
(1) History of Tunneling
• Tunneling works were started since from ancient time
before 17th Century.
• The qanat or kareez of Persia are water manage system
used to practice a reliable supply of water to human
settlement or for irrigation in hot, arid and semi-arid
climates. The deepest known qanat is in the Iranian city of
Gonabad, which after 2700 years, still provide drinking
and agricultural water to nearby 40,000 people, it main
well depth is more than 360 meter (1180 ft) and its length
is 45 km (28 mile)
Source- Internet
The qanat or kareez (Source-Internet)
Profile Underground canal
Qanat well (Source-Internet)
(2) What is Tunneling Work
• Tunnel is an artificial underground passage, especially are
built through a hill or under a building, road, or river, is a
long, half cylinder or horseshoe shape. (Oxford Dictionary)
Advantages.
(1) More economical than open-cuts beyond certain depth.
(2) Avoid disturbing or interfering with surface life and
traffic during construction.
(3) The case of area welfare and bombing, the tunnels would
grant better protection as compared to bridges.
(4) Tunnels avoid the dangerous open-cut very near to the
structures.
continued
(5) Tunnels prove to be cheaper than bridge or open-cut to carry
public utility service like water, sewer, gas, electricity and telephone
lines.
(6) If tunnels are provided with easy gradients, the cost of hauling is
decreased.
(7) The safety of tunnel construction has considerably increased by
the improved modern methods of construction and construction
equipment.
(8)There is freedom from snows and iceberg hazards.
(9) There is overall reduction in cost because of shortening the
distance.
(10) Tunnels avoid interference with surface and air rights.
Continued
Disadvantages of Tunnels
(1) The initial cost of construction is high as compared to an
open-cut.
(2) It is necessary to have skilled labor and technical
supervisions of high order for construction of a tunnel.
(3) It takes long time for the successful completion of a
tunnel under normal condition.
(4) The construction of tunnel requires specialized and
sophisticate equipment.
Source-Internet
(3) Method of tunnel construction
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2010
Methods of Tunnel Construction (source- Internet)
(1) Cut and Cover method
Continued
(2) Bored tunnel method
Continued
(3) Clay kicking method (4)Shaft method
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2010
Continued
(5) Pipe jacking method (6) Box jacking method
Continued
(7) Underwater tunnels (8) Drilling and blasting
(4) Some Famous Tunnels of the World
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2010
Longest and deepest railroad Tunnel
• Gothard Base Tunnel
• Longest and deepest railway tunnel
• Location- Switzerland, under Swiss
Alps between Northern & Southern
parts of Switzerland.
• Length - 57 km
• Height – 5.20 m
Opened in 2016
Construction period 17 years
Cost over 12 billion Swiss francs
Source- Internet
Longest tunnel in Asia
• Highway tunnel
• Location- Chenani to Nashri in
Jammu Region on NH 44
• Length – 9.28 km
• Completed in April 2017
Source- Internet
Longest underwater tunnel
• Seikan Tunnel
• Location – Tsugaru strait
between Hokkaido island and
Aomori Prefecture
Length- 53.9 km, out of which 23.3 km
portion is under the seabed.
Water depth- 787m
Construction period- 1964-1988
Tnnnel under English Channel
Lowest point – 75 m below the sea bed
and 115 m below sea level
Length under water – 37.9 km out of
total length 50.45 km
Opened in1994
Connect Folkestone (Kent, England)
_with Coquelles (Pas-deCalais,France)
Source- Internet
SMART Tunnel
Storm water Management and Road Tunnel
• Location- Kualalumpur,
Malaysia
• Length- 9.7 km storm water
bypass with 4km dual deck
motor-way
• 13.2 m diameter
• Longest storm water drainage in
SEA
• Completed in 2007
• Source- Internet
(5) Myanmar and Tunneling Organization
Tunneling organization
• Global level tunneling organization was formed as ITA
(International Tunneling Association) in April 1974 at Oslo,
Norway, following a conference at Washinton DC(USA) in 1970
as leading international association, comprising currently 80
member nations and 128 Corporate Affiliate Members (CAM)
Aim of the association
To encourage the use of subsurface and has promoted advance in
preparatory investigations, planning, design, construction,
maintenance and safety of tunnels and underground space. ITA
represents all aspects of tunnels and underground space planning,
design, and construction.
Myanmar Tunneling and Underground Space Committee
(MTUSC)
MTUSC was formed in 2012 under the umbrella of Myanmar
Engineering Society and is became a member of ITA in the
same year in 2012 during the WTC, that was held in Bangkok,
With the aim
- to promote the tunneling technology among the Myanmar
engineers and geologist.
- To share knowledge of tunneling and underground
construction technique by holding seminars, workshops
and trainings.
- Cooperation and collaboration with international
association for promoting of tunneling technology.
BANGKOK
Myanmar
• Area : 677,000 m2
• Population : 54 million
(6) Tunneling experience with Myanmar
Asia Pacific Dealer Meeting July 1~3
2010
Tunneling works in ancient time
• An ancient tunnel discovered at Thiho Shin
Pagoda in Pakokku on August 4th, 2020. Had
about 8 feet in depth. In that tunnel there are three
rooms with about 10 square feet in space. Nothing
is found in that tunnel.
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2010
Tunneling experience with Myanmar
It was found that the earliest experience for construction of tunnels
in Myanmar is Maungtaw- Buthitaung railroad in Yakhine State and
these two tunnels were completed in 1918 and constructed by
Martin construction company from Florida, America.
These two tunnels are (1) Taung Khaung Che (Small tunnel) and (2)
Taung Khaung Gyi (Long Tunnel), (7) mille and (9) mile away from
Buthitaung.
Size of tunnels are:
15.5 ft diameter
Height- 12.5 ft
Length- 98 ft and 658 ft
Constructed with 3 ft thick brick masonry work.
At present use as Tourist attraction.
Earliest tunnel in
Myanmar
Maungtaw- Buthitaung
Railroad tunnel in
Yakhine State
Taung Khaung Gyi
(Long Tunnel)
Earliest tunnel in
Myanmar
Maungtaw- Buthitaung
Railroad tunnel in
Yakhine State
Taung Khaung Che
(Small Tunnel)
Earliest Tunnel in
Myanmar
Sin Taung Railway
tunnel
Constructed in
1913
Shan State, Nyaung
Shwe township
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2010
Railway Tunnels since Pre-war
Total Number of Railway Tunnels = 11 Tunnels
Total Length of Railway Tunnels = 885 m
Railway Tunnels since Pre-war
Railway Tunnels built during pre-war still using with
meter gauge track
The most recent Railway Tunnel
Pon Nyar Range Railway Tunnels(completed in 2007)
Total Length = 1,710 m
The Longest Railway Tunnel in Myanmar
Tunneling activities of Myanmar
The most recent Railway Tunnel (2007)
Pon Nyar Range Railway Tunnel Completed in year 2007
still using with meter gauge track
The most recent Railway Tunnel (2007)
Pon Nyar Range Railway Tunnel Completed in year 2007
still using with meter gauge track
Some completed tunneling works in Myanmar
• (1) Tunnel works constructed by Myanmar’s Military Engineers.
(25-6-2009), ( Aljeazera )
• (2)Constructing a tunnel in Rakhine Yoma some 80 Km west of Padan
township. The tunnel is 50 feet wide and 50 feet high.
• (3) China-Myanmar railway Tunnel complete for Dali-Ruilli section
(330 Km), Yunan province SW China (8-5-2022). Key part of
China-Myanmar rail road..
• (4)Myanmar-China friendship Tunnel in Kachin State. (Kanpaikti)
on Kanpaikti-Myitkyina road.
Recently constructed
Road Tunnel
Myanmar – China
Friendship tunnel in Kachin
State
Location - Kanpaikti on
Kanpaikti-Myitkyina Road
Tunnels in Hydropower Projects
Hydro-Power Plants as of 2015
• Completed Hydropower dams 24 dams
• 62 plants are under construction
Tunnels in Hydropower Projects as of
2015
• Completed 33 hydro-tunnels
• total length of 34,000 m.
• Most of them are headrace and diversion
tunnels
Kinda and Mone Tunnel
Kinda
• Diameter 24.6 feet (7.34 Meter)
• Length 1525 feet
• Discharge 4024 cusec ( 2*28 MW)
• Completed in 1989-90
Mone Diversion Penstock
• Diameter 37.4 feet 37.4 feet
• Length 3625 feet 1539.31 feet
• Discharge 34120 cusec
• Completed in 2006-2007
• Surge Tank Diameter 87 feet Depth 228.5 feet
Tunneling Practice in Hydropower Projects
Paunglaung HPP Headrace Tunnel Paunglaung HPP Headrace Tunnel
Kun HPP Headrace Tunnel Kun HPP Headrace Tunnel
Tunneling Practice in Hydropower Projects
Shweli 1 HPP Access Tunnel Shweli 1 HPP Headrace Tunnel
Kabaung HPP Headrace Tunnel Kabaung HPP Headrace Tunnel
Tunneling Practice in Hydropower Projects
Phyu HPP Headrace Tunnel Phyu HPP Headrace Tunnel
Thaukyegat 2 HPP Headrace Tunnel Thaukyegat 2 HPP Headrace Tunnel
Tunneling Practice in Hydropower Projects
Upper Paunglaung HPP Diversion Tunnel Upper Paunglaung HPP Diversion Tunnel
Nancho HPP Headrace Tunnel Nancho HPP Headrace Tunnel
Tunneling Practice in Hydropower Projects
Yeywa HPP Access Tunnel Yeywa HPP Access Tunnel
Thahtay HPP Headrac Tunnel Thahtay HPP Headrace Tunnel
Tunneling Practice in Hydropower Projects
Dapein (1) Diversion Tunnel Dapein (1) Adit Tunnel
Chipwinge Headrace Tunnel Chipwinge Headrace Tunnel
(7) Future plan of tunneling works in Myanmar
Asia Pacific Dealer Meeting July 1~3
2010
(7-1) Railway Tunnels – Under Plan
(1) Nansan – Kyaing Ton Railway Line
(2) Nay Pyi Taw – Pim Laung Railway Line
(3) Minn Bu – Sittway Railway Line
Tunneling activities of Myanmar
Railway Tunnels – Future Plan ( Continue)
Mul Sel – Kyauk Phyu Railway (885km)
To link southern China and Kyauk Phyu (western coastal area)
Total 101 tunnels ; Total length = 151 km
Nay Pyi Taw-kyauk Phyu railway also under consideration
(7-2) Planned Road Tunneling works in
Myanmar
(1)Myanmar tunnel projects proposed for mountain routes
Three road tunnels have been planned as part of highway project in Shan
mountains by the Myanmar Government under the project of China’s Belt and
Road (BRI) scheme. The scheme includes Expressways, a bridge and a tunnel.
(Within 1700 km from Kuming- Mandaly-Yangon) Tunnels would run through:
(a) Wa Ta Lone Mountain 8.4 km 97 million $
(b) Khyauk Nwe Mountain 1 and 7.0 km, 100 million $
(c) Kyauk Nwe Mountain 2 8.3 km, 120 million $
• The tunnels would form part of the project for the Taunggyi-Loilin road in
Shan state. Initially planned to include all three tunnels but now consider only
Wa Ta Lone tunnel. under BRI.
• Fund; Expected from ODA Japan, Economic Development and Cooperation
Fund (ECDF), and ADB
(7-3) Planned Urban tunneling project
• Major master plan project (JICA)
• For judging the future population increases with increasing the
number of trips.
UMRT Line (1) Urban Mass Rapid Transit with high speed.
North – South connecting CBD with Yangon International Airport
21.8 km length via Yangon Central Station and Mindama sub-
center area including 10.3 km of underground combine with elevated
way.
UMRT Line (2) East – West line Length 26.0 km
Hlaing Tharya – Mindama and Toe Kyaung Kalay Station
including 13.0 km of underground way.
UMRT Line (1)
North – South
connecting CBD with
Yangon International
Airport 21.8 km
Underground 10.3 km
Elevated 11.5 km
UMRT line (2)
East – West line 26 km
Underground 13 km
Elevated 13 km
From Hlaing Tharya to
Toe Kyaung Kalay
Railway Station
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2010
Thank you for your kind attention
