Bengaluru Metro: Light at the end of longest Metro tunnel

Bengaluru: BMRCL achieved a major milestone on Saturday as Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Margarita broke through from Majestic to North Ramp; towards Sampige metro station at 4.55 pm. It started tunneling on October 6, 2014 and it took BMRCL over a year to finish the longest tunnel (955m) so far.

Metro employees along with the Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola had come to witness the moment. It was a euphoric moment for the contractors and the labourers to see the TBM cut through and reach the North Ramp. There were loud cheers from the metro labourers who had worked for this every day and night.

The Japanese made Margarita does 2.6 rotations per minute. The highest on a day the TBM have drilled up 27 m. On Friday night it dug up to 15m. Meanwhile, on the developments of metro work, Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola said, “Slow trials are going on at East-West underground corridor. We will start the trials on full speed from Sunday or Monday at 80 km per hour or even more. By January, we want to open east-west line for public. As for North-South, after underground tunneling is through, tracks will be laid by January –February and by March we will complete this line as well.”

On meeting the mid 2016 deadline, he said, “We are working towards it.”  As far as Phase 2 is concerned, he said that everything is ready and BMRCL just has to discuss with the government and finalise the date to start the work. Meanwhile, Godavari TBM running from Sampige towards Majestic has completed 450m and 550 m remains as balance.

Kaveri TBM has completed 500 m, 200 m remains and currently at Balepet. Lastly, Krishna TBM has to start tunneling from Majestic towards Chickpet.

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