The Gulermak-TATA Projects JV has celebrated the early completion of TBM tunnelling on Phase 1 A of the Lucknow Metro. The event marks the completion of the city’s first TBM-driven tunnels as part of the the 22.88km-long (Phase 1 A) Lucknow Metro North-South line.
The two 6.52m diameter TERRATEC EPBMs, the S52 TBM named ‘Gomti’ and the S53 TBM named ‘Ganga’, simultaneously broke through at Lucknow’s Hussainganj underground metro station on April 28, completing their third drives for the project, two months ahead of schedule. The event also marked the completion of tunnelling works on the 3.67km long Charbagh-Hazratganjunderground stretch in a record time of approximately 15-months.
The TBMs mined through geology consisting of stiff to hard clayey silt and medium to dense silty sand, passing beneath historic buildings in the Capital Plaza of Hazratganj(heritage district) without any disturbance to buildings, public utilities or traffic.
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The EPB machines feature a classic soil configuration with a spoke-style cutterhead and a 57 percent opening ratio. TERRATEC designed the cutterheads with cutting tools that are interchangeable with 17’’ roller disc cutters, allowing the TBMs to bore through station D-walls and cope with the presence of unexpected obstacles in the ground.
However, tunnelling through the heart of Lucknow posed a number of difficulties and engineers working on the project carefully planned every step involved in the tunnelling operation. The final drives from Charbagh to Hussainganj were possibly the most challenging, as the TBMs had to pass 1m below the bed of the Haider Nallah (canal) in a highly populated area full of dilapidated structures on weak foundations.
“During this journey, the TBMs delivered excellent performance, with no major breakdowns, crossing the Haider Nallah and so many other geological challenges along the way. We are very thankful to the entire Terratec team,” saysRamesh K., Assistant General Manager (P&M)withTATA Projects.”With these state-of-the-art TBMs, and a dedicated, passionate, project team, this daunting task was completed in a world-class manner with outstanding quality and before-time completion.”
These tunnels will now provide Lucknow – the capital of Uttar Pradesh – with its first underground metro line, bringing a modern public transportation system to a city that is currently experiencing rapid population growth and substantial traffic congestion. Phase 2 of the system is due to commence in 2018.
Watch this video of the Lucknow double-breakthrough: http://www.terratec.co/video/07.html
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