TBM Bhadra Breakthrough! Bengaluru Namma Metro Pink Line Tunneling Nears Completion

Bengaluru's Namma Metro, specifically the Metro Pink Line, is gearing up to reach a significant milestone in the crucial underground section along Gulabi Road in the upcoming week, as stated by BMRCL.

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has announced that the 'Bhadra' Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), named after the present Venkateshpura, is presently actively tunneling the route, covering a distance of 1,186 meters to the north. This information has been provided by the 'DS' newspaper.

The TBM Bhadra is expected to complete its tunneling work by February 7, achieving another milestone by covering a one-mile stretch. In the Namma Metro Pink Line, after successfully completing 1,184.4 meters from Venkateshpura and emerging from KG Halli in December, the TBM Tunga commenced the next tunneling route between KG Halli and Nagawara on February 1.

Out of the planned 24 tunneling works, 22 have already been completed. Following the completion of the 22nd tunnel, the Bhadra TBM is expected to emerge in the coming week. This tunnel is designed to connect Kalyan Agrahara via MG Road and Tannery Road. The construction of the 24th and final tunnel is set to restart in March, with completion anticipated by the end of March 2025 for the commencement of commercial operations on the entire route of Namma Metro's Blue Line.

The completion of annual tunneling work for the Blue Line route of Bengaluru Namma Metro is targeted for March 2025 to facilitate commercial operations. Currently, two tunneling works remain to be completed on this route, with high prospects of achieving this goal by the end of the fiscal year. As of January 30, TBM Bhadra has covered 1,120 meters in a stretch of 1,184.4 meters, using a combination of stones, soil, and sand in the tunnel construction. Out of the required 840 vents for tunnel construction, 800 have been constructed.

The TBM Bhadra on the Pink Line route has a diameter of 1.4 meters and is reinforced with sturdy concrete. The process of placing Metro rail tracks on it is yet to take place. Currently, this tunneling machine is involved in laying tracks between Cantonment and Venkateshpura. In the stretch between Nagavara and Kalyan Agrahara on Gulabi Road, encompassing 12 subterranean and 06 elevated stations, the company assigned to the project is actively engaged in track laying. The company is currently tasked with deploying machines for tunneling 20.99 kilometers in the Pink Line, covering Ugra, Vara, Avni, Lavi, Vindhya, Vamika, and Rudra.

The completion of annual tunneling work for the Pink Line is expected to conclude by March 2025, making the current Namma Metro Pink Line route operational for business transactions and services.