TBM Krishna Makes Final Breakthrough for Bangalore Metro’s Phase 1

Just an hour ago, TBM Krishna – a Herrenknecht EPBM Tunnel Boring Machine made a historic final breakthrough for Bangalore Metro’s Phase 1 project at the Majestic station’s South Shaft! This TBM was commissioned from Chickpet station in late December 2015 and took 9 months to complete the 747m north-bound tunnel.

Like its sister machine Kaveri, Krishna’s operation & maintenance was handled by a team of more than 50 personnel from the Robbins Company (and other subcontractors) who were brought in by the Coastal-TTS JV to get the much delayed tunneling drives for package UG-1 (Sampige Road – National College) completed. During its journey, the TBM encountered everything from soft soil to mixed face conditions of hard & granite rock which required frequent cutterhead interventions to keep the TBM advancing ahead.

Satellite view of the Majestic station’s southern shaft where the breakthrough took place:

Alignment of Chickpet - Majestic station - view Bangalore metro map & information

Alignment of Chickpet – Majestic station – view Bangalore metro map & information

krishna4

Photo Copyright: Lokesh Shreya

krishna1

Photo Copyright: Naveen Menezes

krishna6

Photo Copyright: Narayanamurthy Aarya

krishna5

Photo Copyright: Narayanamurthy Aarya

krishna7

Workers from Robbins – Photo Copyright: Pushkar

krishna3

BMRCL’s MD – Photo Copyright: Naveen Menezes

Videos

With this breakthrough out of the way, the BMRCL can no longer entirely blame tunneling conditions for not meeting the ‘new’ April 2017 deadline like it recently did with the November 2016 one. Don’t hold your breath for the new one though. From here onward, it will take a minimum of 12 months to get the TBM out, cover up the shaft, clean up the tunnel, complete architectural detailing, lay track, install all critical electrical-signalling-telecommunication systems, conduct trials, obtain necessary approvals and commence commercial operations.

For more updates, check out the Bangalore section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

24 Responses to "TBM Krishna Makes Final Breakthrough for Bangalore Metro’s Phase 1"

  1. Samra says:

    Pls. Provide some update on Magenta line and when will whole line trial begin as DMRC gave a new trial date DEC. 16

    Reply
  2. Kamal says:

    Day before yesterday Chennai Metro new extension inaugurated, and today Breakthrough of Krishna.
    Please post regular updates from now onward.

    Reply
    • Akshay says:

      Come on man, he’s at least giving better updates than other people. Try not to get hung up on the specifics.

      Reply
  3. harsh says:

    welcome back TMRG

    Reply
  4. Srikanth says:

    ufff! 12 more months. hope its only 12 MONTHS…. thanks for update

    Reply
  5. Siddhant Kumar says:

    Whenever the partly demolished building issue after ip extension metro station gets solved you write about it. Tmrg

    Reply
  6. krishnana says:

    Metro tunneling comes to an end – NEWS9

    Now video is avaiable in u tube

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KANqORUwQg4

    Reply
  7. KRISHNAN says:

    Airport Metro link
    ————————
    According to sources, the Nagawara-Bellahalli-Yelahanka Town-Airport (Alternative – 9) has been recommended. Considering the proposed steel flyover to the airport from Chalukya Circle, there is pressure to extend the KR Puram line, which in the long run, will also connect Central Silk Board on the ORR.However, no decision has been taken so far.

    http://www.deccanherald.com/content/573766/bmrcl-gets-1000-responses-9.html

    Reply
  8. KRISHNAN says:

    BMRCL floats tender to convert 3-car trains into 6-car ones once Phase I is complete
    ——————————————————————————————————————–
    At present, there is a ridership of 1.4 lakh per day, and this number is likely to increase once all of Phase I becomes operational. The BMRCL is expecting a ridership of 5 lakh in the initial months of operations, and the number is likely to go up to 8 lakh in a few months.
    At present, the BMRCL has 50 three-car trains that have a capacity of carrying 975 passengers at a time. With the integration of three more cars to the existing trains, the carriage capacity could increase up to 2,000 for each ride.

    http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Rush-is-showing-Metro-trains-will-soon-double-in-size/articleshow/54664700.cms

    Reply
  9. Aditya says:

    Hey TMRG, please come back soon..waiting for your post. And then dont take any vacation for atleast one year…?

    Reply
  10. Secret says:

    Plz close the site if u r not posting

    I’m checking from so many days

    Vacation vacation

    Reply
  11. Adarash says:

    I think site should be closed

    TMRG is no more on this site

    Reply
  12. Avinash says:

    TMRG time to close d site

    I have got my 2. Months salary

    But not even 1 post from u

    Reply
  13. Krishnan says:

    TMRG come back soon

    No updates

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      I’m back. Replying back to emails/messages/comments. Updates will resume within 24 hours. I’ll need to clear a long list of old updates first 😀

      Reply
  14. V-Rulz says:

    Kejriwal on this ” No updates from TMRG” thing….
    Yeh sab modi ki chaal han,, ???

    Reply
  15. Azad Babu says:

    He will not come back.

    Reply
  16. Azad Babu says:

    He has gone into hibernation, with a phase of gasping for air every 16th of each month. Perhaps trapped in some legal troubles for running this website.
    Nevertheless Delhi metro has started updating their phase 3 page with new pics, though they look a month old or more. Now its our turn to gasp for news on print media for their updates on metro.

    Reply
  17. KRISHNAN says:

    Namma Metro records 2nd highest ridership -09th October 2016
    ———————–

    “We touched nearly 1.9 lakh commuters on both lines on Friday,” said Pradeep Singh Kharola, Managing Director, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.

    http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2016/oct/09/metro-records-2nd-highest-ridership-1526397.html

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      That’s excellent! All it takes is 1 trip for people to see the metro’s benefits and support its implementation and success.

      Reply
  18. Aditya says:

    TMRG is coming back….on 11.10.2016.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply to Secret Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *