New Delhi   

Metro Phase II tunnelling begins

Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Thrust for tunnelling: Tunnelling work for Delhi Metro Phase II in progress with the lowering of Tunnel Boring Machine at Malviya Nagar on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: The tunnelling process for Phase II of the Delhi Metro railway network began on Wednesday with the lowering of the giant tunnel-boring machine near Malviya Nagar. The Metro Rail Corporation will use 14 of these machines for constructing tunnels on the Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar, Central Secretariat-Badarpur and Airport Express corridors.

The 135-tonne part of tunnel-boring machine was lowered by a 450-tonne crane imported from Germany and the entire operation lasted 45 minutes.

“The other two parts of the machine weighing 65 tonne will be lowered by Thursday. The machines will be assembled 15 metres below the surface in 30 days after which it will start tunnelling from Malviya Nagar towards Hauz Khas,” said the DMRC spokesperson, Anuj Dayal.

These tunnel-boring machines have been imported from Japan, Germany and the U.S. “These machines allow the work to be carried out below the surface without disturbing the buildings on top.”

The DMRC has carried out a survey of all the buildings along the stretch and all the constructions have been found to be in a safe condition. “The buildings are in good condition and will be monitored throughout the construction by using crack meters, settlement meters and inclinometers,” said Mr. Dayal.

Tunnelling in about 14.45 km of Phase II will be done using the tunnel-boring machines while the cut-and-cover method would be carried out on 8.91 km. The rest of Phase II, about 97 km, will be elevated.

“All tunnel-boring machines will finish tunnelling by December 2009 after which electrical, signalling and other works will start. The airport tunnelling will, however, take longer.”

The DMRC has set the target date of June 2010 for completion for the Central Secretariat-Qutub Minar line, September 2010 for the Central Secretariat-Badarpur line and August 2010 for the Airport Link.

These tunnel-boring machines have been recently refurbished and were earlier used during construction of the section underneath New Delhi railway station.

“During the first phase of construction, the DMRC procured two tunnel-boring machines from the Bangkok Metro, while one was brought from the German manufacturer Herrenknect. The machines brought from Bangkok were used for tunnelling between Patel Chowk and Connaught Place, Kashmere Gate and Chandni Chowk and New Delhi to Connaught Place,” said Mr. Dayal.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cultural fiesta on its way to Delhi
On the look-out for renewable fuel
No jaywalking please, this is Delhi…
Top Hizb leader held
East Delhi residents seek quality services
Dental Health Mela
Focus on Hepatitis
Adigalar in Delhi
Annual convention
Unions threaten nation-wide strike on economic policies
New CMD for Delhi Transco
Metro Phase II tunnelling begins
Foundation laid for 10-floor parking
Hooda Jr. writes to PM for new airport in NCR
Anbumani forced to withdraw JIPMER Bill
Not against Karunakaran’s return, say Congress leaders in Kerala
Protest against UGC ruling
AAI told to re-employ blind girl
CBI raids residential premises of four MCD officials
Two injured in Blueline accident
False alarm about terrorists in city
Nigerian held with heroin
Constable collapses in office; dies
Women activists detained
“Building Games Village dangerous”
Court orders release of alleged serial killer
Lack of political will to implement delimitation process, says Jolly
In the Capital Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu