TBM Makes Breakthrough at Delhi Metro’s Greater Kailash Station
Yesterday morning, the S883 Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operated by the Pratibha-FEMC team for contract CC-23 of Delhi Metro’s Phase 3 project made a breakthrough at the Greater Kailash station! This Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) TBM with a diameter of 6.61m was commissioned from the Chirag Delhi station on January 17 2016 (see many images in link) and completed building the 545m long up-line tunnel of the new 38.235 km Magenta line which will connect Janakpuri West with Noida’s Botanical Garden by mid 2017.
Alignment of Chirag Delhi – Greater Kailash section of Delhi Metro’s Magenta line – view Delhi Metro information
Satellite view of the GK station’s shaft which is now partially covered:
Breakthrooooough! – Photo Copyright: Rahul Ranjan
Photo Copyright: Rahul Ranjan
Photo Copyright: Rahul Ranjan
Photo Copyright: Rahul Ranjan
Now only 5 more TBM breakthroughs are left for all tunneling works to be wrapped up on this line:
| Contract | Contractor | Origin | Destination | Tunnel |
| CC-23 | Pratibha – FEMC | Greater Kailash | Nehru Enclave | Down-line |
| CC-23 | Pratibha – FEMC | Chirag Delhi | Greater Kailash | Down-line |
| CC-27 | L&T – SUCG | Shankar Vihar | Aravali Mid-Shaft | Down-line |
| CC-27 | L&T – SUCG | Vasant Vihar | RK Puram Mid-Shaft | Up-line |
| CC-27 | L&T – SUCG | Vasant Vihar | Munirka | Down-line |
For a comprehensive report with progress made on all lines’ tunnels, please see my April 2016 Tunneling Update.
For more updates on the Delhi Metro’s Phase 3, check out the Delhi section of The Metro Rail Guy!
– TMRG
I live in GK, so this news brings joy to my ears! Any estimate for when the 2nd breakthrough will be made? I’d like to witness it if authorities allow.
Should be completed in another 30 days. There are only about 200 rings (280m) to go. Before that happens, the down-line tunnel between GK and Nehru Enclave will be completed in 2 weeks – the TBM has only 90 more rings (126m) to excavate.
DMRC has become a little strict in Phase 3 and very rarely even invites the media, but do give it a try – it’ll be worth it!