TBM Vidyarthi records 2nd Tunnel Breakthrough for Kanpur Metro Phase 1

Kanpur, India (Metro Rail Today): In a significant development for Kanpur Metro Phase 1, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Vidyarthi has successfully achieved its second breakthrough at Transport Nagar Station. The breakthrough, completed on Wednesday evening, marks another key milestone in the ongoing construction of the underground section of the metro’s KNPCC-06 package.

TBM Vidyarthi (S-639B), a Herrenknecht Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) machine, was commissioned in January 2024 as part of the Kanpur Metro Phase 1 project. It is one of four TBMs being used to construct the twin tunnels along Line-1, which spans 23.78 km between IIT Kanpur and Naubasta. TBM Vidyarthi has been tasked with constructing critical sections of the underground network, contributing significantly to the metro’s progress.

In its first assignment, which ended in June 2024, TBM Vidyarthi successfully bored a 1.25 km underground tunnel from Kanpur Central Station towards Nayaganj Station. The tunnel was a crucial part of the alignment for the down-line, furthering the metro’s underground network.

Second Breakthrough at Transport Nagar Station

For its latest assignment, TBM Vidyarthi was deployed to bore a 331-meter tunnel from the ramp area near Swadesh Cotton Mills to Transport Nagar Station. The machine was commissioned in mid-August 2024 and took approximately 86 days to complete this section of the tunnel. This timeline includes a brief 10-day pause to attach its back-up gantry, which is used to support the machine during its tunneling operation.

The successful breakthrough at Transport Nagar Station marks the second of the four breakthroughs achieved by the Afcons – SAM India Consortium, which is handling the construction of the KNPCC-06 package. The previous breakthroughs occurred earlier in March and June 2024 at Nayaganj Station.

Project Overview: KNPCC-06 Package

The KNPCC-06 package, awarded to Afcons – SAM India JV in March 2022, spans 4.65 km and includes the construction of three underground metro stations at:

• Kanpur Central Station
• Jhakarkatti Station
• Transport Nagar Station

This section of the metro line will connect Nayaganj Station to the Transport Nagar Ramp and forms an integral part of the metro’s underground corridor. The project is being carried out with a 36-month deadline and a total value of Rs. 1087.67 crore.

Upcoming Work: Parallel TBM Operations

Parallel to TBM Vidyarthi’s work, another TBM, TBM Azad (S-640B), has been boring the tunnel for the up-line and recently reached Transport Nagar Station in October 2024. Both TBMs, Vidyarthi and Azad, will now work together to complete the final section of the underground corridor, extending towards Jhakarkatti Station. After tunneling through the station boxes at both Transport Nagar and Jhakarkatti, the machines will continue to bore the final twin tunnels to Kanpur Central Station.

With these developments, the Afcons – SAM India JV has now completed 4 out of 8 tunnel breakthroughs, including the two achieved at Nayaganj Station earlier this year. If no major tunneling challenges are encountered, the project is on track to record its 8th and final breakthrough at Kanpur Central Station in approximately 9 months.

Looking Ahead

As the construction of Kanpur Metro’s underground section progresses, the successful tunneling breakthroughs by TBM Vidyarthi and Azad signify crucial strides in the completion of Phase 1. The metro project, which aims to improve urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion in Kanpur, is steadily moving towards its target completion date.

The ongoing work at Kanpur Metro Phase 1 is expected to deliver a fully functional underground metro system that will provide reliable and efficient transportation for the city’s residents. With Afcons – SAM India JV making steady progress, Kanpur’s metro network is on track to transform urban transport in the region.