STN: A key step has been completed in the construction of Delhi Metro’s Golden Line. Delhi Metro TBM Disha, a tunnel boring machine used by Afcons Infrastructure, has finished digging a section of tunnel up to Tughlakabad Railway Colony Station.
This tunnel is part of a larger underground stretch being developed between Aerocity and Tughlakabad. The Golden Line under Phase 4 will include 16 metro stations and cover more than 23 kilometers.
How Delhi Metro TBM Disha Was Prepared
Delhi Metro TBM Disha is a modified version of an earlier machine. It was first used in Bengaluru under the name TBM Varada, where it helped build tunnels for the city’s Pink Line. After that project ended in 2022, the machine was taken to Butibori near Nagpur for refurbishment.
Following repairs and final testing in October 2023, the machine was approved for reuse. It arrived in Delhi and began operations in November 2024. Its task was to excavate a 959-meter-long tunnel between Tughlakabad Station and Tughlakabad Railway Colony Station.
Tunnel Construction and Project Scope
According to Delhi Metro officials, the tunnel was built at an average depth of 18 meters below ground. The segment constructed includes 566 concrete rings that provide structure and support.
This section of work belongs to Contract Package DC-07, which Delhi Metro awarded to Afcons in early 2022. The contract value is approximately Rs. 1,669 crore. It comes with a deadline of 42 months.
The full DC-07 package includes a 6.981 km stretch of underground tunnels. It links three main stations: Maa Anandmayee Marg, Tughlakabad Railway Colony, and Tughlakabad. The tunnel ends at the Sarita Vihar Depot.
At Tughlakabad, the new line will connect with the existing Violet Line, offering better travel options to commuters.
More Progress Expected Soon
Along with the tunnel completed by Delhi Metro TBM Disha, another tunnel is also under development on the same route. A separate TBM, Robbins 364, is working on the parallel tunnel. That breakthrough is expected by the end of this month.
Overall, the Golden Line has seen 12 tunnel breakthroughs so far. These include:
- 4 completed by Afcons for Package DC-07
- 6 completed by Larsen & Toubro for Package DC-09
- 2 completed by J Kumar for Package DC-08
Each breakthrough adds to the pace of progress for Phase 4 of the Delhi Metro. The successful performance of machines like Delhi Metro TBM Disha ensures that underground work stays on schedule.
