L&T’s TBM Lavi Records Breakthrough at Bangalore Metro’s MG Road
Larsen & Toubro’s Tunnel Boring Machine Lavi (DZ672) on April 15 recorded its first breakthrough at the underground MG Road Station for Bangalore Metro’s 21.386 km Pink Line (Reach 6).
This CRCHI slurry machine was commissioned from Shivajinagar Station in February 2021 to build the 1076m down-line tunnel for the 73.92 km Bangalore Metro Phase 2 project’s 2.755 km Package RT-02.
A BMRCL official speaking to TNIE explained the terrain challenges faced by the team:
The biggest issue faced when carrying out work using any TBM is the damage to the discs on the cutter head. In case of Lavi, the discs were damaged more than that encountered with any TBM before. For every six metres drilled, four discs get damaged for any machine when passing through regular granite. But since it had to pass through a long stretch of Dolerite Zone, more number of discs got damaged. This forced us to stop, repair the discs and start again.
This happened nearly 200 times during the course of the drilling the 1076-metre stretch it completed. After some rings are laid, the machine comes face to face with a very hard surface at the core. This causes numerous damages
Breakthrough Video:
From here on, TBM Lavi will now be dragged through MG Road’s station box for its final assignment to build the 1098m down-line tunnel towards Vellara Junction (National Military School). L&T hopes to complete that job in 331 days.
Lavi’s sister machine, TBM Avni, working on the parallel tunnel arrived at MG Road in January 2022 and started its second drive towards Vellara Junction on March 4.
With this development, approximately 36% of tunneling work for Phase 2 (total scope: 20,855m) has been completed with 7 out of 26 breakthroughs recorded: 3 on Package RT-01 by Afcons, 2 on RT-02 by L&T, 2 on RT-03 by L&T, and 0 on RT-04 by ITD Cementation.
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– TMRG
It seems like this stretch is going to be the most challenging part of phase 2. If they can pull it off ,albeit delays of course, it would be a great relief for the residents who live in the vicinity of stations on the pink line.
@TMRG, any chance of the Yellow line and the extended stretch of the purple line opening by end of this year? Kindly update
Hi, both not possible in 2022.
Yellow Line’s depot works are underway and BEML trains are nowhere close to arriving. Tender was just published for 72 new coaches.
Purple Line’s operations depend on either Kadugodi Depot getting ready or Tin Factory section’s viaduct getting completed.
Hey TMRG, do you have any updates on the viaducts at Tin Factory or Kadugodi depot? What do you think will get completed first, the depot or the missing viaducts?
Personally I think viaduct completion would be a bigger victory since continuous operations can then start from byappanahalli leading to much higher ridership.
Tough to say at this time, but I’d bet on the viaduct. New steel composite girders have arrived at Tin Factory. A launching gantry is being setup to move ahead.
Its very disappointing to note that there will be no new lines opening during 2022. Work seems to going full swing on the elevated part of the pink line. Any update on the percentage of elevated work completed on this line?.
GR Infra has shown great progress since taking over. Plenty of activity spotted by followers at / off site.
BMRCL’s April newsletter suggests 33% completion (versus 30% in April). Take the numbers for whatever they’re worth: https://english.bmrc.co.in/FileUploads/d09773_PressQuesFiles.pdf
Hi TMRG, any idea why Airport line integration with with Ph3 ORR line has been moved from Hebbal to Kempapura station ? Can you get access to the Phase 3 DPR please?
Hi TMRG, any idea why Airport line integration with with Ph3 ORR line has been moved from Hebbal to Kempapura station ? Can you get access to the Phase 3 DPR please? Thanks
Hi, no why RITES suggested that. It’s up to BMRCL to decide whether to adopt or not. I don’t have access to the report. If and when I do, will definitely write about it.
Hi TMRG, why double decker metro coaches are not considered on fully elevated routes which don’t have tunnels like Silk Board to KIA route