Kolkata East-West Metro: Indian Railways Completes Tunnelling Work, After Successfully Executing Challenging 800 Metre Stretch

Amidst Covid-19 situation following protocol related to the pandemic, Indian Railways on Sunday announced that it has completed 800 metre challenging tunneling work in East West Metro Corridor from Sealdah to Bowbazar in Kolkata.

With this breakthrough the entire tunnelling for the Kolkata East-West Metro Project is completed.

“The stretch was difficult for tunneling work as it had century old buildings. This challenging tunnel drive of 800 m has been completed successfully amidst this pandemic situation following COVID-19 protocol,” said the Ministry of Railways.

The Tunnel Boring Machine ‘Urvi’ which had earlier completed East Bound tunnel from Esplanade to Sealdah on October 9 last year was relaunched from Sealdah after necessary refurbishment and inspection on January 9 this year to complete the balance 800 m tunneling work in West Bound tunnel from Sealdah to Bowbazar.

This drive of tunneling has been completed and the tunnel boring machine break through at Retrieval Shaft at Bowbazar was achieved on Saturday.