How Surbana Jurong Group is involved in the realisation of India’s national goals
From the iconic Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme in Australia – named as one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world – to one of the world’s largest desalination plants in India providing safe drinking water, to the specialist construction engineering for Asia’s upcoming tallest skyscraper in Malaysia, and the construction of more than a million homes in Singapore, the engineers and architects of Surbana Jurong (SJ) Group of companies are always at the forefront of transformative projects that spur the imagination.
Designed World’s Longest Tunnel Above 10,000 feet
The Atal Tunnel in India – the world’s longest at above 10,000 feet – is one such transformative project. As India marks 72 years of independence in 2021, the Surbana Jurong Group is proud to have supported the completion of the Atal Tunnel, poised to improve livelihoods for isolated communities through trade and better connectivity.
SMEC, one of Surbana Jurong Group’s nine member companies, has provided specialist engineering services for over 14 years, contributing to the successful completion of the Atal Tunnel notwithstanding severe geographic and weather conditions in the Himalayas. A team of technical specialists from different countries were determined to make this huge undertaking a reality. In collaboration with local partners they provided innovative design for fire safety and ventilation, achieved an understanding of complex rock types, and built rock supports in a sensitive geological fault zone and glacial lake deep within the mountain range. The iconic tunnel will improve connectivity for remote communities in the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, reduce travel distance between Manali and the Lahaul and Spiti Valleys, and boost tourism by providing all-year access to the region.
The Atal Tunnel is a statement of Surbana Jurong Group’s competencies and capabilities as a global urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firm. The Group’s strength is the depth and diversity of its talent pool, the harnessing of leading technology and innovative research, and the tenacious determination to deliver on its promise: Building Cities, Shaping Lives.
Building Lives and Livelihoods
Surbana Jurong Group’s stable of companies, are already engaged in several infrastructural projects in India and continue to deepen their support of the nation’s development projects and economic growth. Many of these infrastructural projects are in line with India’s national goals, such as supplying safe drinking water to all rural households and increasing housing supply by 2022.
Notably, water engineers from SMEC have been working to supply safe drinking water for densely populated areas, improving health, development and quality of life for more than 1,400 villages in Uttar Pradesh.
SMEC is also involved in a long-term water supply solution for the Perur Desalination Plant, one of the largest desalination plants in the world, through reverse osmosis of seawater, taking water from the ocean all the way to customers’ houses. Commissioned by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, the plant will produce 400 MLD (megalitres per day) of water.
To support India’s agriculture sector, SMEC has also leveraged on its strong track record in sustainability projects for the Karnataka Integrated and Sustainable Water Resources Management Investment Programme. SMEC engineers are working to modernise the 4,500-hectare Gondi Irrigation Canal System.
Housing, Life Sciences and Transport
Surbana Jurong’s Group’s township planning team is involved in the master planning, concept design and project management services for the Gujarat Housing Board. The project incorporates some of Singapore’s best practices to make Gujarat’s public housing more vibrant, sustainable and liveable.
The Group is also providing project management consultancy services for the development of a large industrial town, spread over 8,200 acres, in Haryana State’s Jhajjar district. Sustainability is a key consideration and the design integrates infrastructure components including water, sewerage, drainage, roads, recycling of treated water and optimisation of resources.
Additionally in Telangana, India’s newest and fastest growing state, Surbana Jurong is engaged in key projects such as the Hyderabad Pharma City. Located within the life science capital of India, this project forms part of one-third of the nation’s total pharmaceutical production.
The Group recently completed the Genome Valley 2.0 Concept Master Plan, which houses 200 global and national life science and pharmaceutical companies with a workforce of 10,000.
Surbana Jurong is involved in an affordable housing project in Gujerat and the Genome Valley masterplan
Transport engineers in SMEC and Surbana Jurong are also deeply engaged in transit-oriented development (TOD) projects for some of the densest and most vibrant urban centres of India. Most recently, SMEC has been appointed by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation to undertake the detailed design of viaduct and stations for Phases 2A and 2B of the Bangalore Metro, besides TOD for the Chennai Metro and Mumbai Metro Line 6.
Headquartered in Singapore, with a growing global footprint, the Surbana Jurong Group boasts a long and well-documented history of working with stakeholders to realise the sustainable and economic development goals of India.
