The underground tunnelling and station construction work on Namma Metro's East-West Corridor appears to be moving at an average pace with the two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) drilling about 300 metres cumulatively so far.
Helen, the TBM launched during the third week of May, commenced its work in the first week of June from the TBM shaft in Majestic. So far, it has burrowed about 240 metres, which must have reached up to Janata Bazaar on Kempe Gowda Road.
On the other hand, Margarita, the other TBM, commenced the work about one-and-a-half months later, has drilled about 40 metres, a BMRCL spokesperson said.
At this speed, Helen might require about six to eight months to reach Sir M. Visvesvaraya (Central College) underground station and Margarita about nine months. At the Bangalore City Station (near Magadi Road), about 90,000 cubic metres soil has been excavated so far after the contractor constructed 432 of the total 444 soldier piles.
At the Visvesvaraya station, 318 of the 367 soldier piles have been erected. Work at the Vidhana Soudha underground station is progressing satisfactorily.
