Terratec Completes Chennai Metro Phase 2 TBM S96’s Factory Tests

Tunnel boring machine manufacturer Terratec has completed factory acceptance tests (FAT) in China on S96 – the 1st of 4 new machines for Package TU01 of the 118.9 km Chennai Metro Phase 2 project.

This Ø6.61m earth pressure balance (EPB) machine will be deployed by Tata Projects Ltd. (TPL) along with 6 other TBMs to construct approximately 9 km twin tunnels (total 18 km) on the new 45.813 km Line-3’s Venugopal Nagar – Kellys section.

TPL was awarded Phase 2’s Package TU-01 Rs. 1999 crore contract by CMRL in May 2021 with a 42 month deadline.

Scope of TU01: Construction of approximately 9 km twin bored tunnels (total = 18 km) from the TBM Retrieval Shaft near Venugopal Nagar (of Line-5) to Kellys Station, and the construction of diaphragm walls, entry/exit structures of Madhavaram Milk Colony Station, Murari Hospital Station, Ayanavaram Station and Purasaiwakkam High Road Station, including launching and retrieval shafts at the above stations.

Tata’s tunneling plan with 7 TBMs remains unknown to me at this time. If someone reading this is aware, then leave a comment below or shoot me a message via the Contact page.

The other 3 new machines in Terratec’s pipeline will likely be named S97, S98 and S99. I hear Tata plans to refurbish and deploy Terratec TBM S81 from Pune and another 2 Herrenknecht machines from Singapore.

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– TMRG