BENGALURU (Metro Rail News): Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa on Thursday launched tunnelling operations for Namma Metro Phase-II from the grounds of Abdul Bari’s High School near the proposed Cantonment Metro Station here at Bangaluru. With the launch, Tunnel Boring Machine ‘Urja’ began the tunnel operation for 2.88 km stretch ranging from Cantonment station to Shivaji Nagar Metro stations.
This stretch is a part of the 13.9 km underground corridor from South Ramp near Jayanagar Fire station to North Ramp near Nagawara underground Metro Stations with 12 underground stations and twin tunnels covering a distance of 10.37 km.
According to the official data, the expected geology of the tunnel stretch is about 250m in hard rock, 350m in mixed ground conditions and 255m in soil thus making the work a little bit difficult.
Few of the machines have been procured along with two others from China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation (CRCHI) with Larsen & Turbo Ltd having the contract for completing the Reach-3 package. Although a boycott of Chinese goods is underway but the use of its materials in metros continues.
Completion timeline of phase-2 extension lines:
- R4 from Yelachenahalli to Anjanapura is likely to be commissioned in November.
- Extension line R2 from Mysore Road to Kengeri in February 2021.
- Extension line R1 from Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield in June 2022.
- Extension line R3 from Nagasandra to BIEC in January 2022.
- New line R5 from RV Road to Bommasandra in March 2022.
- New line R6 from Kalena Agrahara to Nanawere in June 2024.
