TBM S197 Makes Final Breakthrough on Delhi’s Dwarka–Najafgarh Line
Yesterday afternoon, Tunnel Boring Machine S197 made a final breakthrough at Najafgarh to complete all tunneling works on the Delhi Metro’s 4.3 km Dwarka – Najafgarh line (Line-9). This Herrenknecht EPB TBM, deployed by HCC Ltd for contract CC-66 of Delhi Metro’s 160 km Phase 3 project, was commissioned from the Sai Baba Shaft in September 2016 and built approximately 665 meters (475 rings) for the eastbound up-line tunnel.
The same TBM was originally commissioned to build the parallel down-line tunnel in November 2015 and arrived here in June 2016, after which it was dismantled and taken back to the Sai Baba Shaft in August 2016.
The breakthrough took place at a shaft adjacent to the local Hanuman Mandir, just east of the Najafgarh station. Google Maps is yet to update its imagery since excavation started in mid 2015:
As per one news source, this line will be called the Grey Line. The DMRC is yet to officially confirm that.
Alignment of Dwarka – Najafgarh line – view Delhi Metro Phase 3 information & map
Photo Copyright: Nitin Rajoria
Photo Copyright: Nitin Rajoria
Photo Copyright: Nitin Rajoria
Photo Copyright: Panday UA Rahul
Photo Copyright: Panday UA Rahul
Photo Copyright: Nitin Rajoria
Strangely enough, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in November 2016 prematurely announced they’ve completed all tunneling works for the 160 km Phase 3 project, and Delhi’s clueless journalists went on to publish incorrect news reports without any sort of cross-verification. Sometimes you have to wonder why the DMRC lied? Perhaps they wanted some good press before the year ended since they weren’t going to be able to open the Magenta and Pink lines by their December 2016 deadline? Perhaps they forgot about this small line’s TBM or the 4 TBMs then waiting to enter the emergency shaft in Rameshwar Nagar? We will never know.
The DMRC was facing land acquisition hurdles at 2 spots near the Dwarka Station, but was able to resolve them in the middle of 2016. Now that tunneling works are also completed, I expect this line to open for commercial operations in Q2 2018 as I’ve highlighted in the January 2017 tunneling update post.
For more updates, check out the Delhi section of The Metro Rail Guy!
– TMRG
When Can I Expect to Move via Metro from Botanical Garden to Kalkaji Via Kalindi Kunj , Sarita Vihar
Hi, sometime in Q2 this year. Finishing works and CMRS inspection are pending.
Congrats to DMRC as finally all the tunneling drives are over.
Yea, congrats to them. It’s been quite a journey and no easy task for the DMRC & its contractors, especially since the underground section in this phase is more than that of phases 1 & 2 combined.
Phase 1: 13 km ; Phase 2: 35 km ; Phase 3: 54 km
Hi
Why would it take them an year an a half to start operations in a section this small?
Hi, only the tunnels have been built. Now they’ll have to remove the TBM, clean the tunnel, lay track-beds, install tracks + other sub-systems, cover up the shaft and finish civil work inside the Najafgarh Station. All of these activities will take 6-9 months following which I expect trial runs to begin in Q3 2017.
Testing & interior finishing works will be completed in parallel, and with all necessary approvals, I see it opening only in Q2 2018.
When will Pink Line of DMRC open for Public operations and when will trial runs will start on pink line ?????
When will trial runs starts on Dwarka-Najafgarh corridor ?????
Should start on one line before by September. They’re currently cleaning the tunnel out and laying concrete for the track-bed. This will be followed by actual track-work.
Hi TMRG tell me about the progress of Dwarka-Najafgarh corridor of DMRC?????
Looking back now that this line will be extended have they left a shaft towards the dhansa bus stand otherwise another connection to the new shaft will have to be built
I’m pretty sure they did, but even if they didn’t, then the TBMs can be lowered from the east-side (seen above) and then dragged through the platform level.