Bangalore Metro – April 2016 Tunneling Update

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) just published their April 2016 newsletter which can be viewed here! First let’s take a look at some new snaps of the two underground lines, and then dive into analyzing the data contained within it.

Cubbon Park metro station – Photo Copyright: BMRCL

Cubbon Park metro station – Photo Copyright: BMRCL

Vidhana Soudha metro station – Photo Copyright: BMRCL

KR/City Market metro station – Photo Copyright: BMRCL

Chickpete metro station – Photo Copyright: BMRCL

The newsletter includes some old images of Majestic station which can be skipped. Lots of newer images of the same areas within the station can be found here. The tunneling data in the newsletter was recorded at the start of the month and as such does not reflect recent progress made in the first 13 days of this month. However, since data from the March newsletter is available, a valid comparison can be made to see the progress made over the past month (March) with the month before (February).

Purple line –  Tunneling on the Purple line’s 4.8 km underground section between Magadi Road and MG Road was completed in March 2014 and trials started in November 2015. After many announcements stating it’ll be operational in January, the BMRCL pushed the opening to March-end. In late March, they applied for the CMRS’ safety inspection which took place on April 5th & 6th (see lots of images). Following that, the BMRCL received verbal clearance on April 8 with some conditions on how to operate services. Since then, the BMRCL has been implementing the suggestions and also conducting trial runs in the nights to fine tune services.
Key takeaway: As of April 14, they are yet to announce the dates for inaugurating the line and starting commercial services.

Green line – The Green line’s tunnels from the North Ramp to the South Ramp are being constructed by a JV of Coastal & TTS with some help from CEC-CICI. Only 3 more tunnels are left to be completed. Here’s a map displaying the incomplete Green line’s underground section between the North Ramp & Chickpet in which 3 TBMs are currently operating:

The three arrows represent the direction of tunneling by the TBMs on the Green line’s underground section
view Bangalore Metro map

Here’s a table which compares the progress made by the 3 TBMs:

• The Krishna TBM made a breakthrough at Chickpet station on August 31 from the KR (City) Market station after a slow and tiring journey of 22 months. After being put through repairs for 112 days, the TBM was launched on December 22 towards Majestic for one final drive. In the month of March, it excavated an impressive 144 meters.
Distance Left –  330 meters

• The Kaveri TBM was launched from the Chickpet station in February 2015 and has covered only 25 meters since the March 2016 update. The reason for this includes hard rock and the precarious nature of buildings en-route to Majestic, many of which had to be evacuated.
Distance left –  129 meters

• The Godavari TBM had a new cutterhead installed on it in late July 2015 and restarted tunneling towards Majestic in mid September 2015. Since the March 2016 update, it progressed by an impressive 120m and is expected to make a breakthough in mid April.
Distance left – 80 meters

Northern Section: Sampige Road – Majestic

The distance between the 2 stations is only 1.5 km. In March, it was smooth sailing for TBM Godavari (working on the northbound tunnel) which excavated underneath the Kempegowda Bus Station and is now expected to pop out of Majestic station’s north shaft by next week. If the BMRCL starts trial runs by August 2016, then there’s a small possibility of the Green line getting connected to the Purple line at Majestic station by the end of this year. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until Q1 2017.

Southern Section: Majestic – National College

TBM Krishna continued its excellent advancement rate aided by new cutting discs and the evacuation of many fragile buildings for TBM Kaveri which is still limping towards Majestic station. With that, I’ve now slightly revised my previous estimates by a couple of months and expect both Kaveri & Krishna to complete Phase 1’s tunneling work in July-August 2016. After taking into account the time it takes to lay the track bed, install tracks, electrical, signalling and telecommunication equipment, I expect trial runs to begin in Q1 2017 and commercial operations to start in mid 2017. Does anyone else share this assessment?

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

– TMRG