TERRATEC EPB TBMs Ready for Indore Metro’s First Underground Section
TERRATEC announced the successful completion of factory acceptance testing on the first two of four 6.61-m OD earth pressure balance (EPB) tunnel boring machines destined for the Indore Metro Yellow Line in Madhya Pradesh, India. The TBM fleet comprises two newly manufactured machines and two refurbished units, all prepared at TERRATEC’s Thailand factory. The first two machines are being shipped to site for tunneling work scheduled to commence later in 2026, with the remaining two machines following thereafter.
The machines were procured by the Hindustan Construction Company – Tata Projects Limited Joint Venture (HCC–TPL JV), the contractor executing underground Package IN-05R for client Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL).
Package IN-05R is the first underground section of the 31.32-km Indore Metro Phase 1 project, comprising 11.32 km of twin-tunnel drives connecting a ramp east of Indore Railway Station to a ramp west of Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport. The corridor includes seven underground stations: Indore Railway Station, Rajwada, Chota Ganpati, Bada Ganpati, Ramchandra Nagar, BSF/Kalani Nagar, and Airport. The first two of the four TERRATEC EPB TBMs will be launched from the Airport station shaft to drive the opening sections of the alignment, with launch arrangements for the remaining two machines to be confirmed.
Geologically, the alignment lies within the Deccan Traps, situated across the hilly terrain of the Malwa Plateau with portions extending into formations of the Vindhyan Supergroup. The Deccan Traps are dominated by extrusive igneous rock, principally basalt, which is highly to moderately weathered in the upper horizons and improves in competence with depth. The four TERRATEC EPB TBMs have been configured with mixed-ground cutterheads and active earth pressure balance systems to manage these variable face conditions and maintain control beneath Indore’s dense urban corridor.
The decision to combine two newly manufactured machines with two refurbished units underscores both TERRATEC’s commitment to sustainability in heavy tunneling equipment and the durability of its TBM platform. Refurbished machines, returned to as-new operating condition through TERRATEC’s structured rebuild program, allow contractors to maintain delivery schedules while reducing the carbon footprint and capital cost associated with new-build manufacture.
Upon completion, the underground section will form the centerpiece of Indore Metro Phase 1, providing a direct rail connection between Indore Railway Station and Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar International Airport via the city center. The line is expected to substantially reduce road congestion across central Indore, cut journey times for commuters and air passengers, and deliver a cleaner, more reliable mass-transit option for one of Madhya Pradesh’s fastest-growing cities.
This deployment further reinforces TERRATEC’s leadership in the Indian tunneling market, building on successful projects in Delhi, Lucknow, Pune, Chennai and Mumbai. As a leading manufacturer of tunnel boring machines, raise boring machines and microtunneling systems, TERRATEC continues to deliver tailor-made tunnelling solutions backed by prompt onsite assistance, readily available spares and specialised technical support.
