AGRA (Metro Rail News): To provide metro service to the city residents ahead of the designated time, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation launched the third Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) named ‘TBM Shivaji’ for tunnel construction in the ramp area of the underground section of the Agra Metro Priority Corridor. During this event, senior officials, including MD Shri Sushil Kumar and Director (Works & Infrastructure) Shri Chandrapal Singh from UPMRC were present.
Shri Sushil Kumar, MD, UPMRC
MD Shri Sushil Kumar, Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation, praised the Agra Metro team for this achievement and stated that Agra Metro will be a project that constructs the fastest underground section with great speed in the world. He mentioned that UP Metro has taken another step towards fulfilling the commitment to provide metro service to city residents ahead of the designated time. In order to expedite the tunnel construction work in the underground section, TBM Shivaji has been launched by UP Metro.
TBM Shivaji
Shri Sushil Kumar explained that the Agra Metro Priority Corridor comprises a total of 6 stations, including three elevated and three underground stations. All three elevated stations of the priority corridor are ready, where high-speed testing of Agra Metro trains is being conducted. Meanwhile, rapid construction work is ongoing in the underground section. In order to connect the elevated section with the underground section of the Priority Corridor, ramps are being constructed using the cut-and-cover method. In this ramp area, the tunnel will be constructed from the Taj Mahal Metro Station to the retrieval site, for which TBM Chhatrapati Shivaji has been launched.
Construction Process for Tunnel in Ramp Area
For the tunnel construction in the ramp area, TBM Shivaji will be launched first in the up-line from the launching shaft at Purani Mandi. Following this, TBM Shivaji will be retrieved from the retrieval shaft. Subsequently, TBM Shivaji will be launched in the down-line again for tunnel construction.
Pooja Ceremony for Launch of TBM Shivaji
What is the cut-and-cover Method?
In the cut-and-cover method, utility lines (water and gas pipelines, electricity and phone lines, sewer lines, etc.) are inspected first at the marked location for the ramp. If any utility is found within the marked area, it is relocated. After this process, a diaphragm wall is constructed for ramp construction. Then, using machines, the ramp is excavated according to the designated gradient. After excavation, the casting of the base slab of the ramp is done. After casting the roof slab, the construction of the cut-and-cover tunnel takes place.
Meanwhile, TBM Yamuna and Ganga are constructing the tunnel towards the Taj Mahal Metro Station from Agra Fort at a high speed. Currently, TBM Yamuna has reached near the Taj Mahal Metro Station from the Yamuna mid-shaft, and TBM Ganga is also rapidly constructing the tunnel.
It is noteworthy that in Tajnagari, a metro network of two corridors, totaling 29.4 kilometers in length, is being established with 27 stations. The construction work of the 14-kilometer-long corridor between Taj East Gate and Sikandra is progressing rapidly. This corridor will have 13 stations, including 6 elevated and 7 underground stations. For this corridor, a depot is being constructed at the PAC campus. Additionally, between Agra Cantt and Kalindi Vihar, a nearly 16-kilometer-long second corridor will be constructed, featuring 14 elevated stations. A depot will be built in the Kalindi Vihar for this corridor.
