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

J Kumar Infraprojects (JKIL) on Wednesday celebrated tunnel boring machine (TBM) S64B’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 S64B (nicknamed TBM Shalini)’s very first tunnel breakthrough and the second breakthrough for Delhi Metro Phase 4 project’s 6.51 km Package DC-08 connecting Aerocity – Kishangarh.

S64B 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-4, was deployed by J Kumar – CRTG JV to build tunnels for Package UGC-05 of Mumbai Metro’s 33.5 km Line-3 (Aqua Line).

Following extensive refurbishment, the machine passed factory acceptance tests (FAT) in April 2023 at J Kumar’s yard in Mumbai’s Chenna village on Ghodbunder Road. In June 2023, it became the first machine of DC-08 to be lowered at Kishangarh Station’s west shaft for building a 1500m tunnel towards Vasant Kunj.

S64B built 1105 rings (1 ring = 1.4m) with an inner diameter of 5.8m at an average depth of 22.86m. Per the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s press release, the new tunnel has a minimum depth 15.48 m and maximum depth of 30.25m.

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 S63B (Sonakshi), S94 and S111 (Narayani).

Work on the parallel tunnel was completed by TBM S63B (Sonakshi) in March 2025.

With this development, a total of 11 tunnel breakthroughs have been recorded so far for the Golden Line. From east to west: 3 by Afcons for Package DC-07, 6 by L&T for Package DC-09, and 2 by J Kumar on Package DC-08. Afcons recorded its third breakthrough earlier this month which I wasn’t able to cover – see images and details here on DMRC’s X account.

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

– TMRG