Agra Metro’s TBM Shivaji Lowered at RBS Ramp by Afcons – Sam JV

With tunnel boring machine (TBM) S115 starting tunneling works at Agra Metro’s RBS Ramp and clearing the launch area, Afcons Infrastructure – SAM India JV on Friday started lowering parts of TBM Shivaji (S-718C) into the ramp.

TBM Shivaji – a Ø6.63m diameter Herrenknecht earth pressure balance (EPB) machine – is officially the third TBM for Agra Metro Phase 1 project’s 7.93 km Package AGCC-02 connecting RBS College Ramp – Taj Mahal Ramp on Line-1.

It was previously deployed to build both 228m twin tunnels between Taj Mahal Station and Taj Mahal Ramp on Fatehabad Road, and went on to record tunnel breakthroughs in October and December 2023.

The machine’s parts were then transported on a trailer and brought up to north Agra. In the coming weeks, it will be commissioned to build a roughly 2.2 km tunnel for the down-line from RBS College Ramp towards Agra College Interchange Station. Along the way, it will record two tunnel breakthroughs at RBS College Station and Raja Ki Mandi Station.

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) had awarded Afcons – Sam India Consortium with underground 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.

Tunneling works on Agra Metro’s Priority Corridor’s underground section (Jama Majid – Taj Mahal Ramp) were completed in December 2023. Following that all tunneling action has now shifted to RBS Ramp – Jama Masjid where if my calculations are right then Afcons’ tunneling team will record a total of 10 breakthroughs.

Speaking of the Priority Corridor, here’s a recent snap posted by UPMRC on X showing architectural finishing works underway inside Taj Mahal Station which is being planned to open up prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha General Elections.

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– TMRG