New Delhi, Aug 4 (NationPress) In an impressive display of engineering prowess, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday commended the successful microtunneling project beneath Assam's Beki River, describing it as a pioneering achievement that establishes a new standard in pipeline engineering.

Engineers, utilizing one of the world's most sophisticated machines, the Herrenknecht AVN 1600 MTBM, triumphed over years of technical challenges, completing what once seemed unattainable in a mere 28 days — revitalizing India's oldest cross-country pipeline that significantly contributes to the development of Northeast India.

"Innovation and bravery turn the impossible into reality. Microtunneling... an exceptional method, causing no surface disruption... only precision deep beneath the river!" the Union Minister expressed on X, celebrating this significant milestone.

This remarkable achievement, completed in just 28 days, sets a new engineering standard for the future. The minister emphasized that a fresh benchmark has been established in pipeline history.

Prior to adopting microtunneling, traditional techniques like open-cut and suspension methods were attempted to address the challenges, but solutions for the riverbed could not be found using these methods.

"We tried conventional techniques such as Open Cut, HDD, and Suspension, but none offered a solution in the riverbed... then the Herrenknecht AVN 1600 MTBM confronted the challenge head-on and accomplished the pipeline work under the river in record time," the Minister remarked.

India boasts a cross-country pipeline that runs under the Beki River in Assam. This 434-kilometer pipeline has served as a lifeline for the northeastern region for over six decades.

"India's oldest cross-country pipeline navigates beneath the Beki River in Assam. Revitalizing this 434 km long pipeline, which has been pivotal to the development of Northeast India for the past 60 years, presented a significant engineering challenge," the minister stated.