Kolkata Metro Railway achieved a significant construction milestone on Friday as Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) ‘Durga’ has successfully completed its breakthrough at the upcoming Victoria Metro station in Kolkata, marking the completion of one of the key tunnelling stretches of the Joka–Esplanade Metro corridor.
The breakthrough took place at around 10.30 am in the presence of Metro Railway General Manager Prem Sagar Gupta, the Consul General of Nepal, the Commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Police Commissioner of Howrah, senior officials of Metro Railway, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), representatives of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the executing agency for the project, and other distinguished guests.
According to Metro Railway, the tunnelling work on this section, extending from Khidderpore to Victoria station, commenced on July 10, 2025. The successful breakthrough exactly one year later marks the completion of one of the crucial underground tunnel drives under the ambitious Joka–Esplanade Metro project.
Officials described the achievement as a major engineering milestone, highlighting the coordinated efforts of engineers, technical experts, construction workers and project agencies involved in executing the challenging underground work.
Speaking on the occasion, Metro Railway General Manager Prem Sagar Gupta congratulated the project team for completing the tunnelling work safely and efficiently. He praised the dedication, professionalism and teamwork of all personnel involved, noting that the project was carried out while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety and without disrupting surface traffic.
Metro Railway said the successful breakthrough of TBM “Durga” reflects meticulous planning, engineering excellence and effective coordination among all stakeholders. The accomplishment is expected to accelerate the progress of the Joka–Esplanade Metro corridor, one of Kolkata’s key mass transit projects aimed at improving urban connectivity.
Once completed, the corridor is expected to provide faster, safer and more sustainable transport for commuters while easing road congestion in several parts of the city. The project is also expected to strengthen Kolkata’s expanding Metro network and enhance connectivity between the southern and central parts of the city.Metro Railway further stated that its ongoing infrastructure projects are playing a crucial role in modernising public transportation and contributing to the country’s development goals under the vision of a developed India through world-class urban transit infrastructure.