STN: Afcons Infrastructure announced TBM Amrit breaks through at Maa Anandmayee Marg Station. This marks a significant milestone for Delhi Metro’s 23.622 km Golden Line, which will connect Aerocity to Tughlakabad via 16 stations.
TBM Amrit Begins Tunneling
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Amrit, a 105-meter-long refurbished Robbins Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine, started its tunneling work in May 2023. It was the first TBM deployed for the 85.86 km Delhi Metro Phase 4 project. The machine was commissioned at the Airforce Launch Shaft near Sangam Vihar Station to build a 6.981 km tunnel under Package DC-07. This package connects Sangam Vihar Station to Sarita Vihar Depot.
TBM Amrit’s Progress and Challenges
TBM Amrit traveled 2.65 km from Sangam Vihar Station to Maa Anandmayee Marg Station. The excavation took 18 months, with an average progress of 148 meters per month. Along the way, it built 1,894 tunnel rings, each with an inner diameter of 5.8 meters.
The tunneling process involved technical challenges. According to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), these included relocating a sewer line and excavating through hard rock strata.
Longest Tunnel in Phase 4?
DMRC claims this is the longest tunnel in Phase 4. However, previous tunnels completed by TBMs Bhoomi and Shristi under Package DC-09 were longer. Those tunnels spanned approximately 3 km each between Derawal Nagar and Pulbangash Station. Although a 250-meter gap will eventually be created for Ghanta Ghar Station, they still currently exceed the length of TBM Amrit’s tunnel.
Overview of Package DC-07
Afcons Infrastructure won the Rs. 1,669.20 crore contract for Package DC-07 in January 2022. The package includes a 6.981 km tunnel and three stations: Maa Anandmayee Marg, Tughlakabad Railway Colony, and Tughlakabad. The Tughlakabad Station will also connect with the Violet Line built during Phase 2. The project has a 42-month deadline, with DMRC expecting the parallel tunnel to be completed by January 2025.
Progress Across the Golden Line
So far, five tunnel breakthroughs have been achieved on the Golden Line. These include:
- One by Afcons for Package DC-07.
- Four by L&T for Package DC-09.
- None yet by J Kumar for Package DC-08.
TBM Amrit’s breakthrough adds to the progress of the Golden Line, which is crucial for connecting various parts of Delhi.
Future Plans
In November, Afcons commissioned a third TBM, named TBM Disha, for Package DC-07. This machine will construct a 959-meter tunnel between Tughlakabad Metro Station and Tughlakabad Railway Colony Station. Further updates on this development are expected soon.
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