By ashleykaren
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is making essential advancements in Phase IV of the metro network. The phase includes a total of 65 km of which 28 km will be underground.
Already, the DMRC has built a 2.2 km tunnel between Krishna Park Extension and Keshavpur on the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram Marg corridor, while the operation is continuing on the 1.27 km tunnel between Chhatarpur and Kishangarh stations on the Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor.
In the coming months, tunnelling will start on several other stretches. As stated, the underground stations are being built using the traditional ‘cut and cover’ technology, whereas particular Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are being used for the tunnels.
Due to the routes’ passage through heavily populated areas, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation encounters a substantial hurdle in finishing the 18 stations it seeks to build on the underground portion of Phase IV.
Throughout the underground work, the structures above the work zones will be observed continuously. 9 km of the line’s total length will be buried along the Aerocity–Tughlakabad corridor, while 9 km will be underground along the Janakpuri West–RK Ashram Marg sector.
DMRC is expecting to finish the Phase-IV project by the end of 2025.
DMRC officials have declared that tunnelling work will begin soon on several stretches, such as Sangam Vihar-Anandamayi on the Aerocity-Tughlakabad corridor and Derawal Nagar-Pul Bangash and Nabi Karib-Pul Bangash on the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram Marg corridor.
As reported, the tunnelling work will be monitored, and the buildings above the tunnels will be checked regularly. As a DMRC official claimed, using tunnel boring machines is revolutionizing tunnelling work worldwide, as they do not affect surrounding buildings or other structures on the ground while making the tunnels.
Tunnel boring machines are extremely useful in underground tunnelling work in congested urban areas, and the DMRC has been using them since Phase-I of the project. During Phase III, when the 50 km underground section was constructed, approximately 30 TBMs were utilized in Delhi.
As planned, the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram corridor (Magenta Line) will have 22 stations, of which 11 will be underground. The Tughlakabad-Delhi Aerocity (Silver Line) will have 15 stations, of which seven will be underground. Also, the Majlis Park-Maujpur (Pink Line) will have eight stations.
