Surat: The construction work in the underground section of Surat Metro Line-1, began on September 30 last year. Since then, tunnelling work has been underway from the Kapodra underground station, employing two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) named ‘Tapi’ and ‘Narmada.’ Currently, the tunnelling work is progressing from Kapodra Underground to Labheshwar. The authorities claim that the metro train will be operational before December 2024, spanning a distance of 21.61 km from Dream City to Sarthana, renowned as the diamond route.

To meet this timeline, project engineers have initiated preparations and set a target of completing 8 to 10 meters of tunnel work daily. The construction of the slab for the Kapodra underground station has been completed, and the engineering work on the tunnel is expected to conclude by December. The commencement of metro train operations is scheduled within the next year. Simultaneously, the second phase, encompassing an 18.74 km stretch from Bhensan to Saroli, is slated for completion by March 2025.

Addressing concerns about potential disruptions caused by rain, a Metro official assured that the tunnel operations would remain unaffected during the monsoon season, ensuring seamless progress. Despite the challenge of completing the metro route before the elections, the ongoing work indicates that select routes might be operational prior to May 2024. However, officials have officially confirmed that the diamond route will commence operations in December 2024.

The project’s construction involves the completion of a 1 km tunnel with a diameter of 5.6 meters between Kapodra and Labheshwar. The entire underground route spans 6 km and is being constructed in two parts. The first part extends from Chowkbazar to the Railway station, covering a distance of 3 km. Additionally, a 2.8 km stretch connects the station to Labheshwar, establishing the first up-down route from Kapodra to the station.

The tunnelling activities, conducted with the Tapi and Narmada machines, have successfully excavated a 1 km tunnel between Kapodra and Labheshwar, reaching a depth of 19 meters with a diameter of 6.5 meters. Furthermore, a concreting layer, one meter thick, is being applied during the excavation process, resulting in a final tunnel diameter of 5.6 meters upon completion.

Equipped with 16 ring cutters each, the TBMs effectively cut through soil and rock, enabling the extraction of a significant volume of soil and debris from 19 meters below the ground. Expert estimates indicate that 300 cubic meters of soil are extracted from the tunnel daily by the TBM machines. DeshGujarat