HomeUrban NewsKolkataKolkata Metro Begins Underground Tunnel Dig With TBM Durga For Purple Line

Kolkata Metro Begins Underground Tunnel Dig With TBM Durga For Purple Line

A major milestone has been achieved in Kolkata’s urban transit infrastructure as tunnelling work commenced on the 5-kilometre underground stretch of the Metro’s Purple Line, marking a key step towards integrating east-west connectivity in the city. Tunnel boring machine ‘Durga’, specially deployed for this project, began operations at Kidderpore on Thursday, signalling the start of excavation towards Esplanade.

The project, implemented by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), involves twin tunnels being driven beneath densely built areas, including historic institutions like St Thomas’ Boys’ School. The Purple Line is a 14-km corridor linking Joka to Esplanade, of which 8 km is already operational on an elevated viaduct. The remaining stretch transitions underground beyond Mominpur, with Durga tasked with the first 1.7-km leg towards Victoria Memorial. Project officials confirmed that a second machine, ‘Divya’, will follow at a distance of 150 metres to construct the parallel tunnel. Once they reach Victoria Metro Station, both machines will be reassembled to continue towards Park Street, while the final leg up to Esplanade will be executed using the cut-and-cover method.

The arrival of the 95-metre-long, 650-tonne tunnel boring machine from Tamil Nadu earlier this year marked an engineering feat, with advanced earth pressure balance (EPB) technology that allows digging through varied geological conditions like rock and silt. The TBMs are designed to install precast tunnel segments as they bore, ensuring precision and structural stability. The recent clearance by the state government to use land at Alipore Bodyguard Lines unlocked a critical bottleneck for the station at Kidderpore, accelerating construction timelines. The tunnelling phase is targeted for completion by December 2026, if not earlier.

Officials affirmed that extra safety protocols are being adopted, drawing lessons from past challenges such as the Bowbazar incident during East-West Metro works. The tunnelling plan underlines Kolkata Metro’s focus on expanding its footprint sustainably and efficiently through advanced construction technology and better intermodal connectivity.

Also Read : Railways Boost Safety With AI Based Train Inspection System

Kolkata Metro Begins Underground Tunnel Dig With TBM Durga For Purple Line
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