AGRA (Metro rail News): The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation assembles the 95-meter-long tunnel boring machine after the launching shaft at Ramlila Ground is prepared for tunnel construction.
All three shields of the first TBM have been successfully delivered to the launching shaft by UPMRC. Tunnel construction work will be started by UP Metro in the new year.
UP Metro has put together several components, including the first TBM’s tail shield and backup gantry, at the launching shaft at Ramlila Maidan. On the 28th of December night, the front and middle shields were also successfully brought to the launching shaft. The cutter head will soon be attached to the front portion of the front shield to finish the assembly of the entire TBM. The TBM will then be lowered into the launching shaft as well.
The first TBM is assembled at Ramlila Ground’s launching shaft in preparation for tunnel construction in the Priority Corridor’s underground section. The construction of the tunnel will soon begin. Then, another tunnel-boring machine will be launched from this launching shaft.
The process of tunnel construction is completed in different stages. In this process, first of all, a launching shaft is constructed to launch the TBM. After this, with the help of a crane, various parts of the tunnel boring machine are unloaded into the launching shaft and assembled. After assembling, tunnelling work is started through TBM.
During this, tunnel ring segments manufactured by precast technology are installed in the casting yard with the help of a segment erector located at the back of the TBM. As a result, a TBM builds an average of 10 meters of the tunnel daily.
The tunnel boring machine is divided into different parts. The cutting head is the most advanced part of the front shield of the TBM. The cutting head helps the TBM excavate the tunnel by cutting the soil.
Additionally, there is a set-up for spraying a specific chemical into the cutting head, using a nozzle attached to the cutting head to spray chemicals onto the soil. This chemical prevents the soil from adhering to the cutter head, allowing it to move quickly along a conveyor belt to the machine’s back. Finally, it is taken out of the tunnel by a trolley and transferred to the dumping location.
Additionally, there is a provision for the machine’s rear to launch the precast ring segments. The grouting solution is filled between the ring segments and soil by the TBM after the ring segments have been fixed during tunnel construction, reinforcing the tunnel by creating sturdy joints between the ring segments and soil. Thrusters fitted in the TBM’s mid shield help move the machine forward.
Significantly, a metro network of 29.4 km long with two corridors will be built in Tajnagari, which will have 27 stations. The 14 km long first corridor between Taj East Gate and Sikandra is going on a fast track. 13 stations will be constructed in this corridor. In addition, there will be 6 elevated andseven7 underground stations. A depot is being constructed for this corridor in the PAC premises.
Along with this, about a 16 km extended second corridor will be constructed between Agra Cantt to Kalindi Vihar, with 14 elevated stations. In addition, a depot will be constructed for this corridor in the Kalindi Vihar area.
