The Central Building Research Institute, based out of Roorkee, has developed two machines for underground horizontal drilling. In use, these machines will make it easy to bore tunnels without disturbing the surface structures; and there would be no dust, no traffic hold-up.
One machine is powered by a hydraulic jack with motorized cutter rotation and can drill 310 mm diameter holes up to a length of 12 meters. CBRI says it would cost Rs 2.5 lakh to produce a machine.
To produce these machines, you only need a general fabrication workshop.
The second machine that CBRI has developed is also for drilling horizontal underground bores without disturbing the surface structures. This machine can bore 180mm diameter holes upto 17 meters under the ground. And it costs only Rs 90,000 to produce a machine, using standard steel sections, electric geared motor and can be produced in a general fabrication workshop.
The institute has not given any contact details of an officer responsible for technology transfer, but those interested could get in touch with the Director, Dr N Gopalakrishnan at director@cbri.res.in or director@cbrimail.com or call his office at 01332-272243.