TBM Parvati begins Tunneling for Kanpur Metro Line 2 Underground Expansion

Kanpur, India (Metro Rail Today): Kanpur Metro’s underground expansion has reached another major milestone as Kalpataru Projects International Ltd. (KPIL) – Gulermak JV successfully commissioned Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Parvati at Rawatpur Metro Station. This marks the third TBM launch for the 8.38 km Line-2, which will connect Agriculture University to Barra-8.

TBM Parvati (S-840C), a refurbished Herrenknecht mixed-shield Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine with a 6.5m diameter, is the seventh TBM deployed for constructing twin tunnels in the 32.385 km Kanpur Metro Phase 1 project.

This latest tunneling operation is part of the 4.08 km underground Package KNPCC-11, stretching from Agriculture Depot to Double Pullia Ramp, with three underground stations at Rawatpur, Kakadeo, and Double Pullia. TBM Parvati follows TBM Gomati (S-1408A) and TBM Saraswati (S-839C), which were previously deployed for this section.

Originally, KPIL – Gulermak JV planned to use a new TBM (S-1409A), but export restrictions imposed by the Government of China disrupted these plans. The same restrictions have also affected the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project’s underground tunneling work.

To adapt, the consortium acquired TBM Tunga (S-838B) and TBM Bhadra (S-840B) from ITD Cementation. These machines had previously contributed to the Bangalore Metro Pink Line’s tunneling work between June 2021 and October 2024.

Unlike TBM Saraswati, which will only excavate one tunnel from Rawatpur to Agriculture Ramp, TBM Parvati will construct two tunnels. It will first excavate a 750m tunnel for the up-line from Rawatpur to Kakadeo, be dragged through Kakadeo’s station box, and then continue tunneling approximately 700m toward Double Pullia.

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) awarded the Rs. 762.50 crore contract for Package KNPCC-11 to KPIL – Gulermak JV in December 2023 with a 30-month deadline. Construction work officially commenced at Rawatpur Station in April 2024.

This package is the third underground segment of the Kanpur Metro Phase 1 project, following Line-1’s KNPCC-05 (Chunniganj – Nayaganj) and KNPCC-06 (Nayaganj – Transport Nagar). Contractors for Line-1’s underground sections deployed four TBMs:

• Package KNPCC-05 (Chunniganj – Nayaganj): TBM Tatya (S92) and TBM Nana (S93) – Tunneling completed by Gulermak – Sam India JV.

• Package KNPCC-06 (Nayaganj – Transport Nagar): TBM Vidyarthi (S-639B) and TBM Azad (S-640B) – Tunneling currently underway by Afcons Infrastructure.

Exciting developments continue for Kanpur Metro, as its 6.8 km Moti Jheel – Kanpur Central stretch is on the verge of opening. Following a successful inspection by the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), this segment—part of KNPCC-01R, KNPCC-05, and KNPCC-06—is expected to become operational within days. Once live, Kanpur Metro’s operational Line-1 will extend to 15.5 km, enhancing urban mobility in the city.

With TBM Parvati’s deployment, Kanpur Metro’s underground expansion is progressing steadily, bringing the city closer to a state-of-the-art public transportation system.