Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) S28B has achieved its first and final breakthrough at Chowk Bazar station for package CS3 under the Surat Metro Rail Project Phase I. It was commissioned at Surat Railway station in April 2023 and travelled for 2.9 km till Chowk Bazar station.
The scope of work for the package includes for design, construction and completion of underground stations and tunnel including finishes from Surat Railway station to Chowk Bazar ramp from chainage 7.16 km to 10.72 km, comprising twin bored underground tunnel between Surat Railway station and south ramp, all cut and cover portion including three underground stations viz., Chowk Bazar, Maskati Hospital and Surat Railway Station entry/exits and connecting subway by box pushing method and a portion of New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) and launching and receiving chambers of TBM of the project. J Kumar Infraprojects Limited was awarded for the same in January 2021.
The Surat Metro Project involves development of 40.35 km long metro rail in Gujarat at an investment of Rs 120.2 billion. It consists of two corridors, Corridor 1 involves 21.61 km long Sardhana-Dream City corridor including 6.47 km long underground section; while, Corridor 2 involves 18.74 km long Bhesan-Saroli section, which is a fully elevated corridor.