TBM Kaveri to reach Majestic Metro station in 10 days

Ahead of its November 1 deadline to complete Namma Metro’s entire phase I network, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is all set to achieve a breakthrough at one of the two important tunnels on the southern corridor in 10 days. 

The completion of this tunnel is crucial for BMRCL to start the oscillation trails, electrical, signalling and other tests in the metro stations on the north-south corridor. This needs at least “three to four months”. Besides, breaking through another tunnel needs another two months. 

Pradeep Singh Kharola, managing director, BMRCL told Deccan Herald  that the southbound (between Chickpet and Majestic station) Kaveri tunnel boring machine (TBM) would breakthrough in 10 days. It is just 25 metres away (from the Majestic station) and machine would come out very soon.” This would mark the completion of North-South corridor, he added. 

Albeit the delay and criticism, the Kaveri machine had to dig tunnel through hard rock and soil, as well as 60 feet beneath the most densely populated areas of the city. The tunneling for 1.7 km had started in February 2015. 

In addition to it, the slow-moving TBM Krishna, which made a breakthrough at Chickpet station from the KR Market station in August 2015, has 130 meters left to reach Majestic Metro station. According to Kharola, it takes at least two months to complete the work. 

Consisting of 25 stations in the green line (North-South), only 13 stations between Nagasandra to Sampige road near Mantri Square are operational. According to BMRCL source, at least 98% of the work between KR Market to Puttenahalli is complete. 

Kharola said that the BMRCL is laying the track between Mantri Square to Majestic Metro station on the northern side while completing the work on tunnelling of remaining 130 metres on the other stretch (TBM Krishna) might require another three months. The construction of Metro stations is almost over except the underground Metro stations, he said.