In 2017, Konkan Railway established the George Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology (GFITT) with the objective of sharing its expertise in tunnel construction with engineers from the public and private sectors.
To ensure impactful and technically enriching training for participants, Konkan Railway signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with premier global institutions such as Hagerbach Test Gallery, Flums, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland, and IIT Mumbai.
Tunnel construction is one of the core strengths of Konkan Railway engineers. Training programs are therefore conducted for external engineers who wish to learn the complexities of tunnel construction from industry leaders.
The George Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology (GFITT) was established under the Training Department to fulfill this purpose. GFITT provides training in tunnel construction in collaboration with ETH Zurich, M/s Hagerbach, Hagerbach Test Gallery, Switzerland, and IIT Mumbai.
The numerous tunnels and bridges constructed by Konkan Railway along its railway routes through challenging ghats and the high seismic zones of the USBRL Project (Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link) and other geological locations provide Konkan Railway with a unique edge and unparalleled capability to share in-depth knowledge of tunnel and bridge construction in difficult terrains.
Customized Courses in Tunnel Construction at GFITT, Goa
- Program Duration: 3–6 days.
- Comprehensive 4-week programs: Offered for certification.
Masterclass in Tunnel Technology
GFITT organizes masterclasses aimed at enhancing the knowledge of senior engineers, project planners, on-site engineers, and finance officials, equipping them with expertise on core issues in tunneling, such as:
- Determining proper alignment.
- Selection of tunneling methodologies.
- Cost estimation.
- Ensuring construction within time and cost constraints.
The Masterclass program has two components:
- The first part is conducted in Goa.
- The second part is conducted outside India.
