The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has started tunnel construction at Anand Vihar for the first corridor of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) between Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut, India. A 90-meter tunnel boring machine has started to excavate the tunnel from Anand Vihar to the New Ashok Nagar side. The 82km Delhi-Ghaziabad Meerut RRTS corridor will have 25 stations, including two stations and a siding.
The TBM consists of the cutter head, front shield, middle shield, back shield, erection machine, augers and many other components that will help to excavate the tunnel efficiently and the entire tunnel will be ready by 2025. With the help of the TBM tunnel segment, the tunnel ring is being prepared. The diameter of the tunnel is 6.5 meters and this particular TBM will excavate approximately 3 kilometers of tunnel from Anand Vihar to the New Ashok Nagar side.
Four TBMs will be launched from the Anand Vihar station, with two for travelling from Anand Vihar to New Ashok Nagar and the other two for travelling from Anand Vihar to Sahibabad. On the north side of Anand Vihar, more silos are being constructed to launch the TBM to Sahibabad.
The TBM from Anand Vihar to Sahibabad will each excavate about 2km of tunnels and its recovery shaft is under construction at Vaishali near Sahibabad. In addition, the underground line of the RRTS will have two separate tunnels for trains to and from. Emergency exits will also be provided to keep commuters safe in the event of an emergency, with crossings approximately 250 metres apart.