Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday started the tunnelling work for around 3km from Derawal Nagar to Pulbangash on the Janakpuri West-RK Ashram corridor, an extension of Magenta Line.
A tunnel boring machine (TBM), Bhoomi, launched the exercise in the presence of DMRC managing director Vikas Kumar and other officials. The depth of tunnelling will vary from 12.4m at Derawal Nagar station up to 25.9m near the Najafgarh drain.
The TBM will traverse through varying geological levels underground. “In a first-of-its-kind exercise, Delhi Metro is equipping all its TBMs with the BEAM (bore tunnelling electrical ahead monitoring) system in this phase,” said Anuj Dayal, principal executive director of corporate communications at DMRC. “BEAM enables a TBM to predict on a real-time basis the geological strata up to 20m ahead of the machine’s cutter head face and warn about any unexpected encounter with filled wells, cavities and aquifers,” he added.
According to DMRC officials, BEAM is especially designed for the underground construction industry. The tunnel will pass below many residential and commercial areas on GT Karnal Road.