NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Sudarshan 8.2, a 7.51m diameter Terratec Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine operated by Afcons Infrastructure, achieved the first breakthrough in the tunnelling process for the Delhi – Meerut RRTS project of 82.15 km.
This tunnelling drive began at Bhaisali RRTS Station in April 2022 and extended 1824 meters, the longest of Package 8. After a pit stop at a mid-shaft located 695.85 meters south of Bhaisali, it proceeded to Meerut Central Station.
Afcons was given the civil construction contract for Package 8, worth Rs. 1529.10 crores, in November 2020, with a 1310-day (3.6 years) time limit.
The project’s scope encompasses the construction of six pairs of tunnels from the Brahampuri DN Ramp to the Begumpul UP Ramp, along with three underground stations at Meerut Central, Bhaisali, and Begumpul, utilizing the cut and cover method.
This marks the first breakthrough for S89 and the third of six planned breakthroughs for Afcons Infrastructure as part of Package 8. Previous breakthroughs were achieved by TBM S90 at the Begumpul Station in October 2022 and by TBM S88 at the Meerut Central Station in December 2022.
