The Transtonnelstroy Ltd/Afcons Infrastructures Ltd JV has been awarded the US$206M design and construct contract for the 3km long underground section of India’s Kolkata Metro between Howrah Maidan Station and Central Station. Construction includes boring a 520m long stretch, 20m beneath the River Hooghly, the first under river crossing of its type in India.
The contract is the second, and final tunnelling contract to be awarded on the 8km long underground section of the 15km long, US$1bn, East West Metro Link.
“We will commence work very soon. The twin under river tunnels will be constructed using Earth Pressure Balancing Machine, which is apt for soft soil. We plan to progress 300m per month once work starts,” said P Jayaraman, VP, Afcons Infrastructure.
It has been reported the TBMs could be supplied from Japan and Germany.
The project, which also includes the top down construction of three underground stations, was awarded by the client, the Kolkata Metro Corporation (KMRC) through a competitive bidding process, and has to be completed in four years.
The 7km long elevated section of the line is scheduled to be operational by October 2013, with the complete 15km length connecting Kolkata’s IT hub Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah opening in December 2014.
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