Pune: Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MAHAMETRO) has completed around 70% of the excavation of the Metro tunnel in the hill range to the swiping underground.
Mahametro said it has accelerated work and plans to complete the remaining excavation in the next four months.
Two parallel tunnels were excavated for the upper and lower lines in the moving part through Shivajinagar, Civilian Court, Kasba Peth, Budhwar Peth, Mandai and ended in Swargate.
The 6km stretch between Range Hills and Swargate is underground, taking the length of the total excavation of both tunnels up to 12 km.
Two tunnel drill machines (TBM) have been pressed into action.
TBM digs from the end of the Swargate towards Kasba Peth.
Mahametro officials said excavations of one tunnel on all Range Hills routes to Swargate will be completed in December.
“Tunneling work has been divided into various phases to ensure a faster settlement.
So far, the work develops at the expected speed.
We explore about eight to 10 meters per day,” said Hemant Sonawane, General Manager (Public Relations) in Mahametro.
He said the excavation of the tunnel between Range Hills and Kasba Peth finished in the first phase.
“Now, tunneling is underway in the Kasba to Swargate section.
One tunnel has grown outside Mandai; TBM is expected to reach the Kasba Peth site in the next two months.
Other TBM, who started excavation about two months ago from Swargate, has been closed at Mandai Metro Station site, “Sonange said.
Mahametro officials said apart from the excavation of the tunnel, which walked 18-24 meters underground, his team also monitored the building located on the ground in a 50 meter tunnel radius.
“This is to check whether the excavation work has a negative impact on the building.
So far, we haven’t noticed,” said an official.