L&T Begins Kolkata Metro Line-3’s D-Wall Work for Victoria Station

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has officially started construction work on Victoria Memorial Station of 15.215 km Kolkata Metro Line-3 (Purple Line)’s 5.05 km underground package UG1 between Mominpur – Esplanade.

L&T’s crew in September 2023 had started barricading works to facilitate Victoria Memorial Station’s site preparation activities. Last week, they deployed a trench cutter machine to start grabbing and trenching works to construct the diaphragm wall (D-wall) for its 325m long station box which is being built on the site of the Maidan’s old fountain – view on Google Maps.

Victoria Memorial Station’s site – drone shot via Arghya Drone World08
Trench cutter in action – Photo by Nikhil Pandey

L&T was awarded 5.05 km Package UG1’s Rs. 2447 crore civil construction contract by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) after being declared as its lowest bidder in June 2023.

This northern and final section of 15.215 km Line-3 (Joka to Esplanade / BBD Bagh) will consist of twin tunnels running through 4 underground stations at Kidderpore, Victoria Memorial, Park Street and Esplanade. At Esplanade, it will form the city’s first 3 line interchange with Blue Line (Dakshineswar – Kavi Subhash) and 16.34 km Green Line (Howrah Maidan – Sector V).

Out of 5.05 km (chainage 9063.00m to 14113.00m), roughly 500 meters on the line’s northern-end between Esplanade and Park Street will be built using the cut and cover method.

Alignment and location of stations on Kolkata Metro’s Line-3 – view Kolkata Metro info & route map
Site visitors – Photo by Nikhil Pandey
Photo by Nikhil Pandey

L&T will be required to deploy two new tunnel boring machines (TBMs) with one TBM on stand-by. I hear from my tunneling industry sources that either Herrenknecht or Japan’s IHI will supply those machines.

I see tunneling work starting no sooner than Q2 2025 and this underground section opening up for commercial operations no sooner than 2029 due to tendering delays, which are now behind us. Due to that delay, Line-3’s 7.74 km Joka – Majerhat section will for at least 7 years function as a stand-alone line disconnected from the rest of the Kolkata Metro network.

For more updates, check out the Kolkata section or my Home Page! Sign up for free instant email notifications on new posts over here. Like this post? Get early-access to updates and support the site over here.

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

15 Responses to "L&T Begins Kolkata Metro Line-3’s D-Wall Work for Victoria Station"

  1. Aryan says:

    Update on Mumbai metro 12 work started in Dombivali.
    1) Barrciade install near NekniPada & Soil testing started.
    2) lots of Pilling Machine & Barrciade can be seen near Palava.
    3) Piling started near Palava.

    Reply
  2. Gourav says:

    Tendering delay is on whose part? L&T? RVNL has already awarded the integrated package to them in 2023.

    Reply
    • Chandra says:

      Obviously RVNL. But there are many ongoing issues and objections by defence and police authorities. This will be the most delayed line.

      Reply
  3. Arjun says:

    I though trust on L&Ts words, as they said they will complete the construction work by the of 2026 and commercial operations starting from end of 2027, don’t you think it is possible, if everything goes well and timely?

    Reply
  4. Sarvoday Dutta says:

    When are they (L&T) will start working on the other underground stations as well???

    Reply
  5. Rupraj Sengupta says:

    It will now be joka mominpur viaduct work upto mominpur is progressing fast,land for the mominpur station is now in hand with road widened by demolishing the eastern command hospital 🏥 west side boundry wall.

    Reply
  6. Mojassam khan says:

    Hi sir iam batching plant operation &mantance incharge I have 11years experience India & Maldives 7463954103

    Reply
  7. Virendra Dimri says:

    Most of metros,bullet train HSRP contracts are awarded to L&T seems L&T has very good terms with the NAMO govt. Hope it continues in INDIA party rule,you never know what can happen in the LS Elections-2024′.

    Reply
  8. Ex Employee says:

    One of the worst company to ever work, you will be treated as a slave working not less than 14 hours every single day even on Sunday, senior management uses abusive language and corrupt work culture practices favouring the ass licking employees.

    Reply
  9. Nethaji says:

    Job available in civil engineering

    Reply

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