INDIA: The first two tunnel boring machines for the Pune metro have been delivered to the city.
Terratec is supplying three 6·61 m diameter earth pressure balance TBMs from its Chinese factory via the port of Mumbai. The TBMs, named Mutha and Mula, are to be tested on-site in mid-December.
The first two machines are to be used on the north-south Line 1. A joint venture of Gülermak and Tata Projects was awarded both contracts covering the underground section of Line 1 earlier this year.
The 16·6 km north-south Line 1 will connect PCMC and Swargate, serving nine elevated and five underground stations. The 5 km underground section between Shivaji Nagar and Swargate is to be built with twin-bore tunnels lined with 1 400 mm wide and 275 mm thick pre-cast concrete rings.
The first two lines of the Pune metro are due to be completed in 2022. Titagarh Firema is supplying 51 two-car trainsets and Alstom is supplying CBTC signalling.
