TERRATEC EPB TBM Breaks Through on Delhi Metro Phase-IV Silver Line
TERRATEC announced another milestone on the Delhi Metro with the successful breakthrough of its 6.61-m diameter Earth Pressure Balance Machine (EPBM) “Narayani” on the Aerocity–Tughlakabad corridor (Silver Line, Line-10) of the Phase-IV Delhi MRTS project. The breakthrough was achieved on Contract DC-08, delivered for client Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC) by contractor J.Kumar Infraprojects Ltd.
The machine completed the first drive of the alignment — a 1,600-m long tunnel on the Vasant Kunj to Mahipalpur section. As it advanced, the EPBM installed 1,400-mm wide universal reinforced concrete lining rings, each comprising five segments plus a key, with muck removal and segment supply managed by rail-bound, battery-powered equipment to minimize environmental impact.
This drive presented some of the most demanding ground conditions on the entire Phase-IV program. The alignment runs through extremely hard rock, with uniaxial compressive strengths exceeding 200 MPa in places — conditions more typically associated with hard-rock mining than urban metro tunneling. “Narayani’s” robust mixed-face cutterhead and hard-rock cutting tools were configured specifically to hold progress through this challenging geology, and bringing the drive safely to hole-through stands as a testament to the robustness of TERRATEC’s TBM design and the persistence of the project team.
Once complete, the Aerocity–Tughlakabad corridor will strengthen connectivity across southern Delhi, linking the airport district with key residential and commercial centers and integrating with the wider Phase-IV network. The new line is expected to extend the reach of one of the world’s largest metro systems, easing road congestion and giving commuters a faster, cleaner and more reliable transit option across the capital.
TERRATEC’s continuing success on projects such as the Delhi Metro Phase-III and Phase-IV, Lucknow, Pune, Kanpur, Ahmadabad, Mumbai, Surat and Chennai Metros, and the Amar Mahal Water Tunnel, reflects tailor-made robust TBM design, prompt onsite assistance, a readily available stock of TBM spares, and highly-skilled specialised support throughout tunnelling operations. As India’s metro networks continue to expand, TERRATEC remains at the forefront of delivering tunnelling solutions that combine innovation, reliability and sustainability.
