TBM Gomati completes First Tunnel Breakthrough on Kanpur Metro Line 2

Kanpur, India (Metro Rail Today): Kalpataru Projects International Ltd. (KPIL) – Gulermak JV achieved a significant milestone on Thursday as tunnel boring machine (TBM) Gomati made its first breakthrough near Agriculture University. This marks a major development for Kanpur Metro’s 8.38 km Line-2, connecting Agriculture University to Barra-8.

TBM Gomati (S-1408A), a ∆6.6m Herrenknecht Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine, is the fifth TBM deployed for the 32.385 km Kanpur Metro Phase 1 project’s underground twin tunnels. This achievement is part of the 4.08 km underground Package KNPCC-11, which includes three underground stations at Rawatpur, Kakadeo, and Double Pullia.

Commissioned in October 2024, TBM Gomati completed its first drive, constructing a 622-meter tunnel in just three months for the up-line towards the Cut & Cover – 1 section, which connects to the Agriculture University Ramp. This breakthrough is a testament to the efficient operations led by KPIL – Gulermak JV under Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC).

Contract and Timeline

UPMRC awarded the ₹762.50 crore contract for Package KNPCC-11 to KPIL – Gulermak JV in December 2023, setting a 30-month deadline. KNPCC-11 is the third underground package in Kanpur Metro Phase 1, following Line-1’s KNPCC-05 (Chunniganj – Nayaganj) and KNPCC-06 (Nayaganj – Transport Nagar).

KPIL-Gulermak JV has completed casting 1000 precast segments as of January 21, with work starting in August 2024. An estimated 3600 tunnel rings are expected to be produced to complete the project. Following this breakthrough, TBM Gomati will be transported back to Rawatpur Station for a relaunch southward towards Kakadeo Station for a 772m drive, and subsequently to Double Pullia Station for another 1005m drive.

Parallel Down-Line Construction Challenges

To construct the parallel down-line tunnel, KPIL – Gulermak JV plans to deploy a refurbished TBM instead of the initially planned new TBM (S-1409A) due to export restrictions from the Chinese government. Reports suggest that parts from TBM Tunga and TBM Bhadra, previously used in Bangalore Metro Phase 2, were repurposed for this machine. Its commissioning is expected in the coming weeks.

TBM Gomati’s breakthrough is the 13th recorded for Kanpur Metro Phase 1, with eight breakthroughs on Line-1’s KNPCC-05 (Chunniganj – Nayaganj) and four on Line-1’s KNPCC-06 (Nayaganj – Transport Nagar). This accomplishment underlines the steady progress of the project, which aims to transform urban mobility in Kanpur.

Stay tuned for further updates as Kanpur Metro’s ambitious expansion continues to reach new milestones.