Indore Metro has entered a new stage of construction with the launch of its first tunnel boring machine (TBM) Narmada to build the underground tunnel between the airport and Bada Ganpati. The Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) launched the TBM from a construction shaft near Indore Airport on Thursday and described the deployment as a key step for the underground section of the project. Until now preparatory work had focused on establishing the infrastructure required for tunnelling.

TBM Narmada weighs around 410 metric tonne (t). Engineers assembled the machine at ground level before lowering it into the launch shaft using a Megalift System and a Strand Jack Assembly to lift move and lower the equipment. The lifting arrangement can handle loads of more than 1,000 t and allowed engineers to position the TBM with controlled precision. The managing director of MPMRCL S. Krishna Chaitanya inspected the operation and reviewed the technical process with the project team.

The machine will now undertake tunnelling on the underground section between the airport and Bada Ganpati and is expected to enable mechanised excavation beneath developed areas with limited surface disruption. Tunnel boring machines reduce the need for large-scale open excavation and allow work to proceed while minimising impact on road traffic and utilities. Officials said the launch was conducted under detailed engineering procedures and safety protocols because of the complexity of handling heavy equipment.

With Narmada positioned at the launch shaft Indore Metro can move towards active tunnelling and the progress of the tunnel drive will be monitored closely as the project enters one of its most technically demanding stages. The launch signals the transition from preparatory activity to execution of the underground works and is likely to influence timelines for the broader network. Further updates on tunnelling progress will be provided by the corporation as work advances.