TBM Tapi records Final Tunnel Breakthrough for Surat Metro Phase 1 Project

Surat, India (Metro Rail Today): The Gulermak – Sam India Builtwell joint venture celebrated a significant milestone with the final breakthrough of tunnel boring machine (TBM) S94 at Surat Railway Station on 25th September 2024. This achievement marks the completion of tunneling for the Surat Metro Phase 1 project’s 22.77 km Line-1, which runs from Sarthana to Dream City.

The breakthrough at Surat Railway Station is the sixth and final achievement for Package CS2 / UG1, which connects Kapodra to Surat Railway Station over a distance of 3.46 km. TBM S94, a Terratec earth pressure balance (EPB) machine, successfully completed three tunnels for the up-line after being launched from Kapodra in December 2022.

Recap of Tunneling Drives

Here’s a brief overview of the tunneling milestones achieved by TBM S94:

1. Kapodra to Labheshwar Chowk: 1.45 km (hidden breakthrough in January 2024)
2. Labheshwar Chowk to Central Warehouse: 655 m (first visible breakthrough in March 2024)
3. Central Warehouse to Surat Railway Station: 389 m (second visible breakthrough in September 2024)

The successful completion of these segments signifies a crucial step in the overall development of the metro project.

The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) awarded the construction contract for the 3.46 km Package CS2 / UG1 to the Gulermak – Sam India JV in March 2021. In addition to the tunneling work, the joint venture is also responsible for constructing three stations at Kapodra, Labheshwar Chowk, and Central Warehouse.

Alongside TBM S94, TBM S78 (Narmada) is also part of this project, working on parallel tunnels. The two machines combined will contribute to the development of essential underground infrastructure for the metro system.

With TBM S94 now retired after completing a total of 2,484 meters of tunneling—including a 208-meter segment through Labheshwar Chowk Station—focus will shift to dismantling the machine. Its sister machine, TBM S78, completed all three parallel tunnels for the up-line in August 2024.

Currently, J Kumar Infraprojects operates two additional machines, TBM S25B (Amrit) and S28B (Diya), which are tunneling from Surat Railway Station to Chowk Bazar since April 2023.

The successful completion of TBM S94's tunneling operations represents a major advancement for the Surat Metro Phase 1 project, bringing the city closer to a modern and efficient public transport system. As construction progresses, Surat Metro is poised to enhance urban mobility and connectivity for residents and visitors alike.