PUNE (Metro Rail News): In the 17.4 km route from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Metro Station to Swargate of Pune Metro, the 6 km route from Shivajinagar to Swargate is underground. The tunnel work of this underground route was completed on 4th June 2022 with the help of the tunnel boring machine (TBM). In addition, tracks, overhead electric wires (OHE), and signalling work were carried out in the metro tunnels. On 6th December 2022, a 3 km metro train trial was conducted from Range Hill Car Depot to Range Hill elevated metro station. From Range Hill elevated metro Station to Shivajinagar Metro Station and Civil Court Interchange Metro Station.
Among the critical stages of Pune Metro, this stage is critical from the technical point of view. 85% of the work of Pune Metro has been completed, and the remaining works are in full swing. With every passing day, Pune Metro is trying to achieve one milestone every day.
Underground works are technically very challenging. During the tunnel construction, large quantities of debris were brought up from 70 to 80 feet below the ground and disposed of properly at the right place. Also, cut and cover technology is used for subway stations, and pits must be dug and constructed from below. Shivaji Nagar, Civil Court, Budhwar Peth, Mandai, and Swargate are very crowded places and transporting goods/materials from these areas is very dangerous. Transport vehicles bring goods/materials to and from this place only between 12:00 am and 5:00 am. Working under such challenging conditions, Metro has completed the underground line from Range hill to Civil Court, making our underground metro trial possible.
On 6th December trail run began at exactly 3:20 pm from the Range Hill Car Depot. From Range Hill Car Depot to Range Hill elevated metro station, the train reached the station by moving on the ramp. There the driver changed his compartment, and then from Range Hill elevated metro station, the metro train reached the Shivaji Nagar underground Metro Station; crossing the Shivaji Nagar metro station, it reached the Civil Court Interchange Underground Station. For this trail run, all the departments of Metro, including tracks, electricity, signalling, maintenance and operations, have been continuously working since last week. This trial run took 30 minutes, and the test was carried out as planned and scheduled.
The Managing Director of Maha Metro, Dr Brijesh Dixit, said, “Underground metro trial run was technically very challenging and complex. The employees of Pune Metro were working round the clock for this trial run. I congratulate them all. 85% of the work of Pune Metro has been completed,, and is progressing towards completion step by step. In the next few months, the Phugewadi to Civil Court and Garware to Civil Court routes will be completed and opened for passengers.”
