JKIL’s Delhi Metro TBM Sonakshi Records Breakthrough at Vasant Kunj

J Kumar Infraprojects (JKIL) today celebrated tunnel boring machine (TBM) S63B’s tunnel breakthrough at Vasant Kunj Station of Delhi Metro’s 23.622 km Golden Line (Line-10) which will connect Aerocity – Tughalakabad via 15 stations.

This was TBM S63B (nicknamed TBM Sonakshi)’s very first breakthrough and the first breakthrough for Delhi Metro Phase 4 project’s 6.51 km Package DC-08 connecting Aerocity – Kishangarh.

S63B is a refurbished 6.61m diameter Terratec Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine and one of four machines deployed by J Kumar on DC-08. Back in 2018-2020, this Ø6.61m dual-mode Terratec TBM, then nicknamed as Godavari-3, was deployed by J Kumar – CRTG JV to build 2 tunnels for Package UGC-05 of Mumbai Metro’s 33.5 km Line-3 (Aqua Line).

Following its final breakthrough at the Dharavi Station in March 2020, it was dismantled and taken to J Kumar’s yard along Ghodbunder Road where it was extensively refurbished and subsequently passed factory acceptance tests (FAT) in May 2023.

In Delhi, the 91m long machine was commissioned to build a 1550m long tunnel from Kishangarh Station to Vasant Kunj Station in October 2023.

S63B built 1107 rings (1 ring = 1.4m) with an inner diameter of 5.8m at an average depth of 23m. Per the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s press release, the new tunnel has a minimum depth 15.7m and maximum depth of 30.2m.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had awarded J Kumar with Phase 4’s Rs. 1611.74 crore contract for Package DC-08 in March 2022 with a 42 month deadline.

J Kumar’s 6.116 km Aerocity – Kishangarh section is on the western-end of the Golden Line and comprises of twin tunnels, and 4 stations at Aerocity, Mahipalpur, Vasant Kunj & Kishangarh from chainage (-) 760 mt. to 5356.285 mt.

S63B is one of J Kumar’s four Terratec TBMs working on Package DC-08 between Aerocity – Kishangarh. The others are S64B (Shalini), S94 and S111 (Narayani).

DMRC expects work on the parallel tunnel by TBM S64B (TBM Shalini) to be completed in June 2025.

With today’s development, a total of 8 tunnel breakthroughs have been recorded so far for the Golden Line. From east to west: 2 by Afcons for Package DC-07, 5 by L&T for Package DC-09, and 1 by J Kumar on Package DC-08.

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– TMRG