The first two of four EPBMs for India’s Indore Metro Yellow Line have successfully completed Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) ahead of shipment to site, marking a key milestone for the city’s first underground metro section.
Manufactured by TERRATEC, the Ø6.61m EPBMs are destined for the Indore Metro Phase 1 project in Madhya Pradesh. The fleet comprises two newly built machines and two fully refurbished TBMs, all prepared at TERRATEC’s manufacturing facility in Thailand. The first pair will now be transported to India, where tunnelling is scheduled to begin later this year, with the remaining two machines to follow.
The machines have been procured by the Hindustan Construction Company–Tata Projects Limited Joint Venture (HCC–TPL JV), which is delivering underground Package IN-05R on behalf of client Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL).
Package IN-05R covers the first underground section of the 31.32km Indore Metro Phase 1 scheme. The works include 11.32km of twin-bore tunnels running between a ramp east of Indore Railway Station and a ramp west of Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport.
The underground alignment will serve seven stations: Indore Railway Station, Rajwada, Chota Ganpati, Bada Ganpati, Ramchandra Nagar, BSF/Kalani Nagar and Airport. The first two TBMs will be launched from the Airport station shaft to excavate the initial tunnel drives, while launch arrangements for the remaining machines are yet to be confirmed.
The alignment passes through challenging geology associated with the Deccan Traps on the Malwa Plateau, with sections extending into the Vindhyan Supergroup. The predominantly basaltic ground varies from highly weathered rock near the surface to stronger formations at depth.
To accommodate these mixed ground conditions, the four TBMs have been equipped with mixed-ground cutterheads and active earth pressure balance systems designed to maintain face stability and minimise settlement beneath the city’s densely developed urban areas.
TERRATEC said the decision to supply a combination of new and refurbished machines reflects both the longevity of its TBM platform and a growing focus on sustainability. The refurbished TBMs have been rebuilt to as-new operating condition through the company’s refurbishment programme, helping to reduce both project costs and the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing new equipment.
When complete, the underground section will form the backbone of Indore Metro Phase 1, linking the city’s main railway station with Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport via the city centre. The new metro line is expected to ease road congestion, reduce journey times and provide a more sustainable public transport option for one of central India’s fastest-growing cities.
Terratec
Incorporated 30 years ago, TERRATEC is one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of Tunnel Boring Machines, encompassing all...
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