This story is from October 16, 2014

Rocks trip Namma Metro on deadline

The 2.3-km Phase I work of Namma Metro has hit rock bottom, literally.
Rocks trip Namma Metro on deadline
BANGALORE: The 2.3-km Phase I work of Namma Metro has hit rock bottom, literally. Workers engaged in underground tunnelling in Majestic area are finding it difficult to drill through the giant boulders. A tunnel boring machine (TBM) has been damaged and it will take three months for things to be set right. The result: Bangaloreans may have to wait till early 2016 for completion of Phase I.

The September 2015 deadline set by chief minister Siddaramaiah to complete the project seems impossible now. Of the 973-metre stretch, tunnelling work is over for 450 metres.
In May, TOI had highlighted the problem of boulders delaying work in the CBD area.
The TBM Godavari, working on a stretch between Sampige Road station and Majestic interchange as part of the North corridor, is stuck below 60 feet. The machine cutters were damaged while trying to negotiate the rocky terrain.
The cutters have to be imported from a private company in Italy.
"We have the option of digging up to 60 ft at the problem spot and replace the damaged cutters with the help of foreign experts. It will take a few months," a BMRC official said. Hega Reddy, chief engineer, BMRC, was not available for comment.
On the other hand, work along the South corridor appears to be progressing. The TBM Kaveri is set to complete tunneling between the City Market area and Chickpet shortly.
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