‘Durga' starts working under Purple Line of Kolkata Metro
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
'
The tunnelling for the 5 km Mominpur-Esplanade section of the Purple Line began on Thursday. The machine started burrowing at Kidderpore to build one of the twin underground tunnels.
"This is a historic day for Kolkata. Tunnelling starts days after the state govt finally allowed Metro to use land at Alipore Bodyguard Lines for key Purple Line station construction at Kidderpore," Metro Railway general manager, P Uday Kumar Reddy said, after pressing a button for the giant machine to roll below the 236-year-old St Thomas' Boys' School at Kidderpore.
Sibling TBM Divya (S1410A), being assembled inside the same 17 m-deep launching shaft, will start digging a month later to maintain a 150 m gap with Durga.
The duo's first stop will be at the Victoria Memorial, across 1.7 km. The 95 m long borers will be relaunched from the Victoria Metro station box for another 950 m of tunnelling to Park Street, beyond which the 640 m stretch to Esplanade will be built using the cut-and-cover method (without TBMs).
"Durga should reach Victoria by May 2026 and Park Street by Dec 2026," Vipin Kumar, chief project manager of the project implementing agency, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), said.
Other RVNL officials, including executive director (ED) Amit Tandon, attended the Puja to mark the occasion.
The Purple Line (14 km Joka-Esplanade corridor) now runs on an elevated 8 km Joka-Majerhat stretch. It will duck underground near Ekbalpore, not far from the last elevated station at Mominpore.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
TOI reported on Mar 9 that mammoth 650-tonne tunnel boring machine had completed 1,600-km journey from Tamil Nadu to Kolkata.
Guided by superior technology, the earth pressure balance (EPB) machines can dig through rock, soil or sand to build tunnels with precast segment rings.
Traditionally, TBMs are given feminine names from the time when Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, would be invoked to save those working with explosives for underground construction in the 16th century.
"In the land of Maa Durga, it only seemed appropriate to christen a TBM after the deity. The twin TBM is called Divya, which, in Sanskrit, stands for divine," an official explained.
The TBMs were assembled in Herrenknecht's Alinjivakkam unit in Tamil Nadu. "Durga, with a 6.6 m outer diameter arrived in March and was subsequently lowered in the St Thomas' launching shaft," Kumar said. Extra precautions are being taken to ensure the TBMs dig safely, taking note of the East-West Metro tunnelling fiasco in Bowbazar, the Metro GM said. On the Orange line's Chingrighata hurdle, he said, "The railway minister recently requested the state govt to take the project forward.
The cost is soaring. It's the taxpayers' money."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Indian Express
21 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Yadadri temple's Sanskrit Vidyapeetham upholds inclusive Vedic learning for over 70 years
NALGONDA: Established in 1952 under the supervision of the temple committee, Yadagirigutta's renowned Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple launched the Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy Sanskrit Vidyapeetham with a clear mission: to preserve spiritual and cultural values through the promotion of Sanskrit and Vedic knowledge. For over seven decades, the institution has remained steadfast in its commitment to this cause, say officials. One of the hallmarks of this Vidyapeetham is its provision of completely free education, boarding and lodging to all students. This support from the temple ensures that financial constraints never stand in the way of learning. The peaceful, residential environment allows students to immerse themselves fully in their academic and spiritual pursuits, the officials add. While Sanskrit was once reserved for the elite, the Vidyapeetham sets an example in inclusive education by admitting students from all castes and religions without discrimination. This egalitarian approach not only makes Sanskrit accessible to all sections of society but also fosters a spirit of social harmony. It functions not just as a centre of learning, but as a space that nurtures unity and equal opportunity. Keeping up with modern times In keeping with contemporary needs, the Vidyapeetham offers more than just Sanskrit instruction. Courses in English, Telugu, History and Computers are also taught, equipping students with skills relevant to modern life. Affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Nalgonda, the Vidyapeetham offers a recognised curriculum that prepares students to be both culturally rooted and professionally ready.
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
Titan's limited edition
Titan has spent decades teaching India to read time, but with the limited-edition Jalsa it invites collectors to linger over it. Cast in warm 18-carat rose gold, the 44 mm case frames a lattice of arches that recall Jaipur's Hawa Mahal, each scallop cut by hand then outlined with baguette diamonds. The skeletonised dial sits beneath a deeply faceted sapphire, while a tiger's-eye cabochon crowns the fluted winding stem. Every example arrives on a matte brown alligator strap stitched in Bengaluru and is delivered in a sandalwood presentation box that opens like a miniature palace facade. An engraved rose-gold ring on the back carries Sanskrit verses honouring kala, the constant flow of time.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Floral splendour marks first Sravana Friday at Durga temple in Vijayawada
On the first Friday of the auspicious Sravana month, Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam atop Indrakeeladri was adorned with elaborate floral decorations, creating a spiritually vibrant atmosphere for visiting devotees. Special Kumkumarchanas were conducted in the inner sanctum and the prakaram (outer corridor) of the temple. Throughout the Sravana month, these rituals are being held daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in hourly batches. Devotees can participate in pairs by paying a nominal fee of ₹1,000 per session. The temple management has announced that this opportunity will be available every day until the end of the month. According to traditional belief, offering Kumkumarchana to Goddess Durga during Sravana is considered especially auspicious and is believed to remove obstacles while bringing prosperity and wealth. Devotees were blessed with a smooth and divine darshan on this first Sravana Friday. Temple authorities ensured orderly queues and maintained a peaceful flow of devotees throughout the day. The Executive Officer issued real-time instructions to temple staff and leveraged technology to manage the heavy footfall efficiently, according to a press release.
