KPIL-Gulermak’s 1st TBM for Kanpur Metro’s Line-2 Passes Factory Tests

Tunnel boring machine (TBM) manufacturer Herrenknecht Company in Guangzhou, China in June-end completed factory acceptance tests (FAT) on TBM S-1408A for 8.38 km Kanpur Metro Line-2 connecting Agriculture University – Barra-8.

This Ø6.6m earth pressure balance (EPB) machine will be deployed by Kalpataru Projects International Ltd. (KPIL) – Gulermak JV alongside another new machine (S-1409A) to build twin tunnels on Package KNPCC-11.

Underground package KNPCC-11 is approximately 4.08 km long and will connect Agriculture Depot – Double Pullia Ramp via twin tunnels and 3 underground stations at Rawatpur, Kakadeo and Double Pullia.

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) had awarded KNPCC-11’s Rs. 762.50 crore contract for underground tunneling & construction work to KPIL – Gulermak JV in December 2023 with a 30 month deadline.

The consortium officially started construction work at Rawatpur Station in April 2024.

KNPCC-11 is the third underground package of the 32.38 km Kanpur Metro Phase 1 project after Line-1’s KNPCC-05 (Chunniganj – Nayaganj) and KNPCC-06 (Nayaganj – Transport Nagar).

I hear S-1408A and S-1409A will first be launched from Rawatpur Station to Agriculture University, then be brought back to Rawatpur Station and get relaunched towards Kakadeo Station and onward to Double Pullia Station.

Some snaps shared by a follower:

This is Kanpur Metro Phase 1 project’s fifth TBM to get ready. Contractors on Line-1’s two packages deployed two machines each:

• Package KNPCC-05 (Chunniganj – Nayaganj): TBM Tatya (S92) and TBM Nana (S93) – Tunneling Completed
• Package KNPCC-06 (Nayaganj – Transport Nagar): TBM Vidyarthi (S-639B) and TBM Azad (S-640B) – Tunneling Underway

The machine is currently being dismantled and getting ready for shipment. I expect tunneling works to start in Q1 2025.

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– TMRG