MEERUT (Metro Rail News): Afcons Infrastructure celebrated the final breakthrough of tunnel boring machine (TBM) S90 at Begumpul RRTS Station’s North Shaft, marking the fourth of six planned tunnel breakthroughs for Package 8 of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS project. The project includes constructing six twin tunnels from Brahampuri DN Ramp to Begumpul UP Ramp with three underground stations at Meerut Central, Bhaisali, and Begumpul by cut & cover method.
The TBM, nicknamed Sudarshan 8.3, recorded its first breakthrough in October 2022 after tunnelling approximately 750 meters from Begumpul UP Ramp for the down-line tunnel. The machine was then brought back to the ramp’s site in Meerut Cantonment’s Gandhi Bagh and relaunched in December 2022 to build the parallel up-line tunnel towards Begumpul Station. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) had awarded Afcons Infrastructure with Package 8’s contract for Rs. 1529.10 crore in November 2020 with a 1310-day deadline.
In February, Afcons poured first-stage invert concrete inside the down-line tunnel between Begumpul UP Ramp and Begumpal Station to facilitate track-laying work by Larsen & Toubro. Afcons now has two more breakthroughs pending, with TBM S88 recommissioned from Bhaisali Station to Begumpul Station in February 2023, and parts of TBM S89 lowered this month to build the parallel tunnel. With the project’s completion, TBM S90 will be stored away and is likely to see action again in the 106 km Delhi-SNB RRTS project, pending approval.
