Agra Metro’s TBM Yamuna Records Breakthrough at Taj Mahal Station
Afcons Infrastructure – SAM India Consortium on Monday celebrated tunnel boring machine (TBM) Yamuna’s breakthrough at Taj Mahal Metro Station of the 29.40 km Agra Metro Phase 1 project.
This was TBM Yamuna (Robbins 215-323)’s 3rd and final breakthrough for Agra Metro’s Priority Corridor connecting Jama Masjid – Taj East Gate. Overall this was the 6th breakthrough for 14.25 km Line-1’s 7.93 km Package AGCC-02 between RBS College Ramp – Taj Mahal Ramp.
This Ø6.52m diameter and 95m long Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine was the project’s 1st of 3 TBMs to be commissioned in February 2023. Here’s a list of all drives completed by TBM Yamuna so far:
- Ramleela Maidan to Agra Fort Station (334m) – April 2023
- Agra Fort Station to Shahjahan Gardens Midshaft (~175m) – July 2023
- Shahjahan Gardens Midshaft to Taj Mahal Station (~1175m) – October 2023 (this post!)
In Agra, TBM Yamuna along with another 2 refurbished machines – TBM Ganga and TBM Shivaji are currently building roughly 1.9 kms of twin tunnels of the city’s 5.2 km Priority Corridor with an ambitious aim to become operational by April 2024.
Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) had awarded Afcons – SAM Consortium with Package AGCC-02’s Rs. 1819.79 crore civil construction contract in March 2022 with a 48 month deadline.
Their section from chainage 3630.000 to 11564.485 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.
This is the 6th of a total of 18 breakthroughs, if my calculations are right, planned by Afcons – Sam JV between RBS College Ramp – Taj Mahal Ramp.
If Yamuna’s progress is anything to go by then TBM Ganga – which is building the parallel tunnel and trailing right behind – should arrive at Taj Mahal Station in November.
That breakthrough and TBM Shivaji’s 2nd breakthrough at the Taj Mahal cut & cover ramp on Fatehabad Road are the only 2 breakthroughs left on the project’s Priority Corridor.
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– TMRG
What do think about the optimistic opening date of April 2024? Just an election gimmick or is it possible?
Tunneling is expected to be over late-December / early January, so it’s next to impossible. The typical time to open a line from final tunnel breakthrough is 12-18 months.
But this is India and I’ve seen strange things happening.
True! The architectural finishings take atleast a year to complete and they an not even thinking about tests or rakes and even the Cmrs inspection has to take place.
What do think about the optimistic opening date of April 2024?
I thought Taj Mahal is going to be an elevated station.. 😔
The CM made it clear that the name of the Jama Masjid metro station will be Mankameshwar Mandir station.