Tunnelling along north-south corridor to begin soon

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is all set to launch tunneling work along the north- south corridor of the Namma Metro between Sampige Road and National College for four kilometres.

The BMRCL officials said the Earth Pressure Balanced Machines, imported from Herrenknecht in China, is expected to be operational this month kick-starting the tunneling work.

The contract has been awarded to Coastal-TTS JV for tunnels and two stations with ramps. The second TBM machine also reached the City in the last week of August, said an official.

Piling work

Work at the north ramp has commenced after the Railways handed over the land. “In the north ramp secant piling work is in progress, 295 numbers completed out of total 350 numbers.

In South ramp secant pile work has been completed and excavation of 22,427 cum out of 28,692 have been completed. At Chickpet, shifting of uncharted utilities are in progress. At City Market, 626 numbers secant piles have been completed out of 866 numbers.

As many as 326 numbers of tunnel rings have been cast out of 3,384 numbers at Hesaraghatta Casting yard,” said another official.

In the East-West corridor (Between cricket stadium and Magadi Road), both the tunnels between Majestic and Sir M Visveswaraya Station have been completed. And both TBM 1 (Helen) and TBM 2 (Margarita) have started tunnelling between Sir M Visveswaraya Station towards Vidhana Soudha Station. “TBM 1 (Helen) has progress of 365 m and TBM 2 (Margarita) 151 m. TBM 3 between Cubbon Park and east ramp has progressed up to 89 m,” the officer added.

Overall work completion of viaducts along Reach 2 (Magadi Road to Mysore Road terminal), is 95 per cent and in Reach 4 (KR Market to RV Road) it is 98 per cent. And overall progress of work of stations is 60 per cent along Reach 2 and 78 per cent along Reach 4.