Delhi Metro’s TBM Starts Tunneling from Chirag Delhi to GK

Tunneling work on the last section of the Delhi Metro’s 38.235 km Magenta line has begun! On Sunday, the Pratibha-FEMC JV team for contract CC-23 of the Phase 3 project started tunneling work for the up-line tunnel from the Chirag Delhi station towards the Greater Kailash (GK) station. At the time of publishing this, 2 temporary rings have been placed.

Up-line TBM at Chirag Delhi’s TBM launch shaft – Photo Copyright: Ranjeet Singh Yadav

Photo Copyright: Ankur Tyagi

Photo Copyright: Ankur Tyagi

Alignment of Chirag Delhi – Greater Kailash section of Delhi Metro’s Magenta line – view Delhi Metro information

Parts of this TBM were lowered into the launch shaft in November & December 2015. Here are a couple of images from a post from last month:

View of the backup gantry system from the platform level – Photo Copyright: Ranjeet Singh Yadav

TBM’s mid-shield being lowered – Photo Copyright: Harpreet Singh Riar

Segment erector being lowered & assembled – Photo Copyright: Ranjeet Singh Yadav

The distance between the Chirag Delhi and Greater Kailash stations is only 545m – one of the shortest on the line, so a breakthrough at Greater Kailash can be expected to take place in April this year. But wait..I have more news! A week prior to this TBM commencing work, the Pratibha-FEMC team started to lower parts for another TBM at the same shaft to bore the parallel down-line tunnel. That TBM will be the last on the entire line to start & complete work.

Down-line tunnel’s eye-seal being lowered on January 11 – Photo Copyright: Anand Prasad

Midshield of the downline’s TBM was lowered on January 19 – Photo Copyright: Lalvesh Tiwari

Down-line & Up-line TBMs at Chirag Delhi – Photo Copyright: Ankur Tyagi

Over the next few weeks, the team will continue to lower more parts and assemble them to make the down-line TBM launch ready for its initial drive in mid-February.

For more updates on Delhi Metro’s Phase III, please visit the Delhi section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG