Afcons – SAM JV’s Agra Metro TBM S718C Passes Factory Tests

Tunnel boring machine manufacturer Herrenknecht on Tuesday completed factory acceptance tests (FAT) on TBM S-718C, the third machine of the 29.40 km Agra Metro Phase 1 project’s Package AGCC-02. 

This refurbished Ø6.63m diameter Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine will be deployed by Afcons Infrastructure – Sam India JV to build twin tunnels on 14.25 km Line-1’s 7.93 km RBS College Ramp – Taj Mahal Ramp section.

TBM S-718 had previously been deployed by Afcons–Transtonnelstroy JV between 2013-2016 to work on Chennai Metro Phase 1 project’s packages UAA-05 (Shenoy Nagar – Thirumangalam Ramp) and UAA-01 (Egmore & May Day Park – Washermenpet).

Following its final breakthrough at Chennai Central in December 2016, the machine was dismantled and taken to Herrenknecht’s Tamil Nadu plant in Thiruvallur District’s Alinjivakkam Village for refurbishment.

In Agra, Afcons-SAM JV’s Package AGCC-02 links chainage 3630.000 to 11564.485 and consists of twin tunnels connecting 7 stations at Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, SN Medical College, Agra College, Raja ki Mandi and RBS College.

As mentioned above, this is Agra Metro’s third of four machines to pass FAT. It will now be dismantled and transported roughly ~ 1950 km north. I expect it to be commissioned sometimes towards the end of Q3 (July-September).

Back in February, Afcons – SAM JV commissioned Robbins TBM 215-323 (TBM Yamuna) at Agra Fort’s Ramleela Maidan – see an image of the tunnel it built over here along with images of Agra College and Raja ki Mandi stations. Its sister machine, TBM Ganga, was commissioned on this Tuesday.

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– TMRG