TERRATEC celebrated the successful site acceptance testing of two 6.52m diameter Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machines (EPBMs) for Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) for Corridor-1 of Kanpur MRTS Project (KNPCC-05) in India.

TERRATEC EPBMs

The two 6.52m diameter EPBMs have started excavating for the first underground tunneling package (KNPCC-05) of the 32.4 km Kanpur Metro Phase 1 project’s 8.6 km underground section by contractor Gulermak-Sam India JV.

Kanpur Metro has two corridors: IIT Kanpur to Naubasta Corridor and Agriculture University to Barra-8 Corridor. The TBMs for the package of the 23.8 km Orange Line-1 connecting IIT Kanpur to Naubasta has a length of 3619 meters and includes four stations. This includes an elevated section of 15.16km and an underground stretch of 8.62km.

Awarded to Gulermak-Sam India JV in Sept 2020, the contract also includes the construction of the four new underground stations at Chunniganj, Naveen Market, Bada Chauraha and Nayaganj each 215 meters long (see map below).

TERRATEC EPBMs

For the geology consisting of soil, clay, silt and sandy silt, the JV selected two Ø6.52m EPB Tunnel Boring Machines equipped with a Spoke-Type Type CutterHead with 57% opening ratios, which had been proven to be very efficient in excavating this type of soil.

Kanpur Metro’s 1st Underground Section in India
The two EPBMs have been launched for the initial drives from Bada Chauraha station to Naya Ganj station. Expected challenges are typical for tunnelling in a densely populated, yet historical urban area.

Machine operation is assisted at all times by TERRATEC’s highly-experienced Field Service staff, providing quality after-sales support to ensure optimum performance and successful project completion. Tunnelling operations is carefully observed throughout the manoeuvre via a settlement monitoring programme.

Kanpur Metro is an urban mass rapid transit system (MRTS) being developed to meet the long-term traffic demand of the city of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Anticipated to be completed in 2024, the 32km-long metro rail system will reduce traffic congestion and pollution, shorten journey times, and open up new career and educational opportunities in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh’s industrial capital.

The new metro will contribute to making Kanpur safer and more business-friendly. The project will benefit climate change mitigation by promoting a change from road to rail while reducing gas emissions, and expediting social and economic infrastructure and urban development.
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