(Aditya Shaw, Intern Journalist): About a year later, the process of rescuing the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) ‘Chandi’ from the ground in the collapsed area of Baubazar began. The TBM had been stuck underground for the past one year. According to East-West Metro sources, the TBM will be brought out of the accident area by digging a hole 40 meters long, 15 meters wide and 22 meters deep. A special device has been brought from Austria for this.
Last year, a landslide occurred while digging a west-facing tunnel on the East-West Metro from Esplanade to Sealdah. Multiple houses collapsed. The work had to be stopped as water started entering the tunnel. The situation is such that a part of the tunnel has to be closed by leaving Chandi in the water. Work on the adjoining east-facing tunnel resumed last February after a six-month hiatus.
When the lockdown starts in Corona’s situation, the work stops again. Construction of the tunnel resumed last June. But the work had to be postponed for three weeks as the infection spread among workers and officials. Recently it has started again. For now, the TBM in the eastbound tunnel will be excavated when it reaches Urbi Sealdah. After that, the work of the west-facing tunnel towards Baubazar will be completed with that TBM. Later, two TBM bars will be launched from Baubazar in phases. In this episode, the process of rescuing the crashed TBM ‘Chandi’ has started.
According to East-West Metro sources, the length of Chandi is 110-115 feet. It is not possible to lift that giant device at once. So the machine will be cut into pieces step by step. Chandi will not be able to be used again as it has been in the water for almost a year. However, it will be possible to know exactly what caused the collapse in Baubazar by examining the TBM. That is why after the removal, various parts of the TBM will be sent for testing. When the whole process is complete, the broken part of the tunnel will be molded and made from the top.
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