Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 15 (IANS) Delhi Metro, known for its engineering marvel, is set to dig deeper for its third phase lines which at some places require constructing tunnels under the existing ones, an official said Wednesday.

“Delhi Metro tunnels are usually built at a depth of 20 metres. As we are planning to construct an underground tunnel below a tunnel, we will be digging around 40 metres below ground level,” said Delhi Metro spokesperson Anuj Dayal.

Tests and technical surveys were being conducted to meet the new engineering challenge, he said.

Dayal said in the third phase three tunnels will pass under four existing underground metro stretches.

The third phase of the project was approved by the Delhi government April 11. The new lines in the third phase will link Mukundpur with Yamuna Vihar and Janakpuri West with Noida Botanical Garden in the suburban Noida in Uttar Pradesh.

Three existing routes will be extended: The Badarpur-Central Secretariat line up to Kashmere Gate, the HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon-Jahangirpuri line up to Badli, and the Dwarka-Noida line up to Najafgarh.

The underground stretch from Sarojini Nagar to INA Market on the Mukundpur-Yamuna Vihar corridor will pass under the existing underground section of the Jahangirpur-HUDA City Centre line at INA. It will have nine stations, an official said.

The tunnel from domestic airport (terminal two) to Kalkaji on the Janakpuri West-Noida Botanical Garden corridor will pass under the existing underground section of the Airport Express link. It will have 12 stations.

An underground stretch from Mandi House to ITO on the Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate corridor will pass under the existing tunnel of the Noida-Dwarka corridor at Mandi House. It will have seven stations.

“Delhi Metro has already finalised the tenders for the construction of Mandi House and Janpath stations on the Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate corridor,” an official said.

“The decision to construct more underground corridors was taken this time to ensure that the construction work causes minimum inconvenience to people,” Dayal said.

According to officials, the first phase of Delhi Metro had 13.17 km of underground stretch. The second phase had 34.89 km. In the third phase, a total of 108 km network will be constructed, and of this about 40 percent or 41 km would be underground.

As of now, Delhi Metro has 31 underground stations. The third phase will have 28 underground stations.