L&T Records First Tunnel Breakthrough for Delhi Metro Silver Line

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): In a significant achievement, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) marked a momentous occasion with the first-ever tunnel breakthrough for Delhi Metro's Silver Line (Line-10). The 23.622 km-long Silver Line, connecting Aerocity to Tughalakabad through 16 stations, witnessed the breakthrough at Kishangarh Station. This accomplishment was made possible by L&T's CRCHI Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) DZ1122, which successfully built a 1267-meter-long tunnel from Chattarpur Station in an impressive eight months.

TBM DZ1122 is one of the four machines dedicated to the Delhi Metro Phase 4 project's Package DC-09, covering a 6.51 km stretch connecting Kishangarh to Saket G Block. Commissioned in March 2023, it was the inaugural TBM among the 11 designated for the 3 underground civil packages associated with the Silver Line.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) awarded L&T the contract for Package DC-09, valued at Rs. 1428 crore, in March 2022. The contractual deadline for this segment, spanning 42 months, underscores the rapid progress achieved by L&T in the tunneling process.

The 6.51 km section of Package DC-09, situated in the heart of the Silver Line, features twin tunnels connecting Kishangarh Station to a cut and cover ramp west of Saket G Block Station. This section encompasses four crucial stations: Chhattarpur (interchange with the Yellow Line), Chhattarpur Mandir, IGNOU, and Neb Sarai.

The breakthrough at Kishangarh Station is the first of an estimated 10 breakthroughs planned for Package DC-09, highlighting the extensive tunneling efforts underway. As of the latest update, L&T's second TBM, DZ1123, operating on the parallel tunnel on the same stretch, has completed tunneling a substantial distance, while the third TBM, DZ1125, has recently been deployed into the Chattarpur Mandir Station's shaft.

This breakthrough signifies a crucial step forward in the ambitious Silver Line project, which promises to enhance connectivity across key areas in Delhi. As L&T continues its tunneling operations and the subsequent phases of the project unfold, the Silver Line is poised to contribute significantly to Delhi's expanding metro network.