Surat: The Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) has marked a key milestone in the Surat Metro Rail Project with the successful breakthrough of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) at the congested Chowk Bazaar stretch, completing critical underground tunnelling works in the city’s old core.

The achievement follows nearly three years of engineering effort on the challenging underground section between Surat Railway Station and Chowk Bazaar, where tunnelling had to be executed beneath narrow streets, dense traffic zones, and ageing structures. Engineers ensured continuous monitoring and vibration-control measures to safeguard nearby buildings, while residents of vulnerable structures were temporarily relocated as a precaution. The successful completion without any major incident is being viewed as a notable technical accomplishment.

Six months after finishing the 6.40-km downline tunnel between Kapodra and Chowk Bazaar, GMRC has now completed the parallel upline tunnel as well, effectively concluding the entire underground tunnelling segment of the corridor. The focus will now shift to finishing works at Chowk Bazaar station, including track laying and electrification.

The Surat Metro network spans 40.35 km across two corridors with 38 stations. Corridor-1, the 21.61-km North–South “Diamond Corridor” connecting Dream City and Diamond Bourse to Sarthana, includes a 6.47-km underground stretch featuring six stations—Chowk Bazaar, Maskati Hospital, Surat Railway Station, Central Warehouse, Labheshwar Chowk, and Kapodra—while the remaining alignment is elevated. Corridor-2, the 18.74-km East–West “Textile Corridor” from Bhestan to Saroli, comprises 18 stations. Both corridors intersect at Majura Gate, enabling seamless passenger interchange across the city.

Tunnelling and underground station construction between Chowk Bazaar, Maskati Hospital, and Surat Railway Station is being executed by J. Kumar Infraprojects Ltd. under a contract valued at approximately ₹942 crore.

With tunnelling milestones now achieved, Phase-1 of the Surat Metro, linking Sarthana to Dream City, is targeted for operational launch by mid-2026, bringing the long-awaited rapid transit system closer to reality for the city’s residents, including thousands associated with Surat’s diamond and textile industries. DeshGujarat