By Ashley Karen
TERRATEC marked the successful Factory Acceptance Test of a new 6.61m diameter Rock Earth Pressure Balance TBM (EPBM) in late August, preordained for the Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System Project – Phase-IV, Contract DC-08 in India. Representatives of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited and contractor J. Kumar Infraprojects Ltd. attended the event.
TERRATEC has successfully provided three EPBM orders for this project, which comprises a combination of both brand-new and refurbished EPBMs, with the new tunnel boring machine (S111) particularly designated to build the 23.62km long, 5.7m-wide Silver Line tunnel, linking Aerocity to Tughlakabad through 16 stations.
The expected launch point for the S111 machine is the Aerocity Shaft, while the formerly launched tunnel boring machines, S63B and S64B, have already started their operations from the Kishangarh Shaft.
This new 6.61m diameter Rock Earth Pressure Balance machine (EPBM), named “Narayani”, marks the third deployment by J.Kumar for the construction of twin tunnels spanning 6.116 km within the 65.1 km Delhi Metro Phase 4 project’s Package DC-08, between Aerocity and Kishangarh stations.
The manufacturing and assembly of the TBM in India is a milestone for this project, with pivotal components reaching from overseas and a range of high-quality equipment meeting TERRATEC’s rigid standards procured or manufactured in India.
The universal TERRATEC EPBM has a powerful mixed-face dome-style cutterhead, developed to work effectively in the predicted mixed-ground geological conditions. The tunnel alignments are foreseen to confront quartzite, sandy silt, and rocks.
As the tunnel boring machine advances, 1,400mm wide by 275mm thick versatile reinforced concrete lining rings will be installed, which contain five segments plus a key. Segment transport, muck removal, and supply of consumables will be eased using rail-bound equipment powered by battery locomotives.
TERRATEC’s Field Service staff will be present throughout the TBM operation, delivering unwavering support to secure optimal performance and the successful completion of the project.
In a noteworthy achievement, TERRATEC’s refurbished EPBM (S86), with a diameter of 6.52m, made its second breakthrough at Delhi Metro’s Krishna Park Extension Station in November 2022. This breakthrough not only celebrated the successful completion of a 2.03 km underground extension for package DC-06 but also played a vital role in developing the 38.235 km Magenta Line (Line-8).
The tenacious performance of TERRATEC’s EPB machine underlines its effectiveness and reliability in providing high-quality tunneling solutions for the Delhi Metro.
Due to TERRATEC’s consistent success on previous projects such as the Lucknow Metro, Pune Metro, Kanpur Metro, Ahmadabad Metro, Surat Metro, and Mumbai Metro, it has been chosen again for the underground tunnel package in the Delhi Metro Project.
This success is a result of TERRATEC’s tailor-made and robust tunnel boring machine design, prompt on-site assistance, readily available stock of TBM spares, and a highly skilled and specialized TBM support team that stays devoted throughout the complete tunneling operation.
Further information is available here.
