Kanpur Metro: Tunnel construction work for Chunniganj-Nayaganj underground section begins from Bada Chauraha

KANPUR (Metro Rail News): Kanpur Metro today launched Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) ‘Nana’ named after great freedom fighter Nana Saheb Peshwa for tunnel construction work from the ‘launching shaft’ of Bada Chauraha Metro station. With this, the tunnelling work at the approximately 4 km long underground section between Chunniganj to Nayaganj, under the 23 km long Corridor-1 of Kanpur Metro Rail Project (IIT to Naubasta) has now commenced. The tunnel construction work was inaugurated by Sushil Kumar, Acting Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) by pressing the buzzer, in the presence of senior officials and employees of UPMRC.

The tunnelling of the underground section between Chunniganj and Nayaganj will be done with the help of two Tunnel Boring Machines ‘Nana’ and ‘Tatya’. Both TBM machines were lowered inside a rectangular launching shaft which has a length of about 21 meters, a width of 24 meters and a depth of about17.5 meters. Today construction of a down-line tunnel from Bada Chauraha to Nayaganj with the help of first TBM ‘Nana’ has begun and after a few days, construction of up-line tunnel will also commence with the second TBM ‘Tatya’.

UPMRC has named the TBM machines as ‘Nana’ and ‘Tatya’ after the great freedom fighters who played an important role in the independence struggle. Both these revolutionaries also had a special bond with the city of Kanpur. The association of the Kanpur Metro Project with memory of these great freedom fighters will also inspire everyone connected with the project.

The total length of Tunnel Boring Machines used in this underground section of Kanpur Metro is about 80 meters and their weight is about 450 tonnes. With the help of these machines, tunnel of 5.8 meters in diameter will be constructed.

Expressing happiness on this occasion, Sushil Kumar said, “Commencement of tunnel construction work at the underground section between Chunniganj and Nayaganj is a new milestone for Kanpur Metro. The TBM ‘Nana’ and ‘Tatya’ will lead our way to fulfil the dream of a world-class Metro system in Kanpur. As we know the stretch between Chunniganj and Nayaganj is one of the busiest routes of the city and covers several prominent places. With the help of these state-of-the-art TBMs, we will be able to construct underground tunnels in the heart of the city with complete safety without affecting the traffic on the roads. As construction works on the underground section between Kanpur Central and Transport Nagar has also commenced, it is my firm belief that our team with their dedication will be able to achieve decided targets in the stipulated time.”

Constructing a tunnel of about 990 meters long from Bada Chauraha towards Nayaganj, TBM ‘Nana’ and ‘Tatya’ will reach at the starting point of Nayaganj Metro station in about 6 months, where these machines will be retrieved from the retrieval shaft. Thereafter, both the machines will be re-launched from the launching shaft to be built at Chunniganj and tunnel will be constructed to the starting point of Bada Chauraha Metro Station via Naveen Market.

Under the Kanpur Metro Rail Project, two metro corridors are to be constructed, the first between IIT to Naubasta, with a total length of about 23 km. And the other is between Chandrashekhar Azad University to Barra-8, with total length of about 8 km. At present, the construction work of the first corridor is in full swing. Under this corridor, revenue operations on about 9 km long priority corridor between IIT to Motijheel have already begun from 28th December, 2021. Beyond Motijheel, two parts of underground sections are being constructed between Chunniganj to Nayaganj and Kanpur Central to Transport Nagar. After this, about 5 km long elevated section from Baradevi to Naubasta will be constructed under corridor 1 of Kanpur Metro Project.