Planning, Construction and Maintenance of Guide Banks for Alluvial River

To construct an engineering structure across rivers, it is necessary to narrow down its section and restrict its course of flow centrally through the structure built over it. This is achieved by construction of heavy embankments, called ‘Guide Banks’. Guide banks are constructed in the direction of flow both upstream and downstream of structure, on one or both flanks, as required. Before starting the construction work, selection of material for construction, sub-soil investigation is to be carried out along with the planning for construction work by fulfilling the pre-constructional requirements. From approved construction drawing, layout drawing of guide banks needed to be prepared. Proper stripping of borrow areas and seat of banks are to be completed before the construction. Selection of filter is to be made and laid as per the required specification. Laying of apron and slope protection works are to be completed as per designed parameters. Pre-monsoon and post-flood inspection of guide banks are to be carried out regularly to ascertain the health of the structure and repairing works, if any, to be done for safety of the guide banks.