The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RAPIDX corridor reached a major milestone with the completion of a 2 km-long tunnel connecting Anand Vihar and Sahibabad. This achievement is a big step towards improving regional connectivity.
The breakthrough of the “Sudarshan 4.4” tunnel boring machine (TBM) at the Vaishali retrieving shaft in Ghaziabad marked the momentous event. Vinay Kumar Singh, the Managing Director of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), remotely activated the breakthrough button, with esteemed directors and senior officials present.
The “Sudarshan 4.4” TBM started at the launching shaft in Anand Vihar and successfully reached the Vaishali retrieving shaft, showing significant progress in tunneling.
Completing the entire tunneling process in under 18 months is a major achievement. This was made possible by using seven advanced Sudarshan TBMs. These machines played a crucial role in creating the 12 km-long parallel tunnels for India’s pioneering RRTS corridor. The remaining 70 km-long corridor consists mostly of elevated sections, with 80 percent of the viaduct already completed.
Over 80,000 precast segments were meticulously crafted for constructing these intricate tunnels. These segments were produced at advanced casting yards in Karkardooma, New Delhi, and Shatabdi Nagar, Meerut.
Four tunnels have been successfully established, starting from the Anand Vihar subterranean RAPIDX station in Delhi. These tunnels allow trains to move seamlessly. Two parallel tunnels, each about 3 km long, connect Anand Vihar station to New Ashok Nagar station. Another pair of parallel tunnels, approximately 2 km each, link Anand Vihar station to Sahibabad station.
With this achievement, the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RAPIDX corridor is making significant progress towards its ultimate realization. This project promises to greatly impact regional connectivity and mobility.
