Afcons’ Agra Metro TBM Yamuna Records Breakthrough at SN Medical College

Afcons Infrastructure – Sam India Consortium on Friday night celebrated tunnel boring machine (TBM) Yamuna’s breakthrough at SN Medical College Metro Station of the 29.40 km Agra Metro Phase 1 project.

This was TBM Yamuna (Robbins 215-323)’s 4th tunnel breakthrough and overall the 11th tunnel breakthrough on 14.25 km Line-1’s 7.93 km Package AGCC-02 between RBS College Ramp – Taj Mahal Ramp.

TBM Yamuna is a Ø6.52m diameter and 95m long Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine. In February 2023, it became the project’s 1st of 4 TBMs to be commissioned in the presence of Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Aditya Yoginath.

For its 4th drive that ended last night, the machine was commissioned from Agra College Station on March 23, 2024 and traveled roughly 508 meters eastward in less than 3 months.

Here’s a list of all breakthroughs 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
• Agra College to SN Medical College (508m) – June 2024 (this post!)

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.

TBM Yamuna will now be dragged through SN Medical College’s station box and recommissioned towards Mankameshwar Mandir Station (erst. Jama Masjid Station), covering a distance of roughly 1290 meters.

With 11 breakthroughs squared away, there are now 7 more breakthroughs left: 2 at Raja ki Mandi, 2 at Agra College, 1 at SN Medical College and 2 at Mankameshwar (Jama Masjid). TBM Ganga (Robbins 324) is currently excavating the parallel tunnel from Agra College to SN Medical College and will be next in line to make a breakthrough. Stay tuned!

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– TMRG