Bengaluru Metro Completes Tunneling For City’s Longest Underground Line

The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) recently marked the completion of tunneling for the city’s longest underground Metro line. This milestone is part of the Pink Line (Reach-6) under Phase-2, which spans 13.76 km from Kalena Agrahara in the south to Nagawara in the north.

The Pink Line will feature a total of 12 underground stations, with construction of the stations now approximately 90 per cent complete.

The completion of the 20.99-km twin tunnels along the North-South corridor is expected to greatly alleviate Bengaluru’s notorious traffic congestion, offering residents a quicker and more efficient travel option through the city centre, reports The Hindu.

The final breakthrough was accomplished by Bhadra, the last Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) deployed for this section, which successfully completed a 937-meter stretch from K G Halli to Nagawara. This achievement signifies the total completion of tunneling work for Reach-6.

The tunneling operations, which extended from south of Tannery Road to the north ramp, included the construction of four underground Metro stations: Tannery Road, Venkateshpura, Arabic College, and Nagawara. The project was managed by M/s ITD Cementation India Limited, a prominent engineering firm in India.

Initiated in August 2020, the project saw the launch of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Urja between Cantonment and Shivajinagar. In total, nine TBMs were deployed, each successfully completing their respective sections.

Notable milestones during the tunneling phase included TBM Urja achieving a record of 27 meters in a single day on 25 April 2022, and TBM Tunga recording a monthly total of 308 meters between K G Halli and Nagawara in July 2024.

Once operational, scheduled for December 2025, this line is anticipated to significantly enhance traffic flow along the North-South corridor, providing commuters with an effective alternative to Bengaluru’s heavily congested roadways.