TBM Durga breaks through at Victoria Metro station on Kolkata Purple Line
Synopsis
Exactly one year after it began boring, TBM Durga has punched through at Kolkata's proposed Victoria Metro station — clearing the toughest underground stretch of the Purple Line and setting up the next drive beneath the Maidan toward Park Street. The milestone brings the long-delayed Joka–Esplanade corridor one critical step closer to full operation.
Key Takeaways
TBM Durga achieved a breakthrough at the proposed Victoria Metro station on 10 July 2025 , completing the Kidderpore–Victoria underground stretch.
Tunnelling took exactly one year , commencing at Kidderpore on 10 July 2024 .
The machine will next bore beneath the Kolkata Maidan toward Park Street .
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted a video of the breakthrough on X, calling it 'engineering excellence beneath the city.' The Purple Line (Joka–Esplanade) is already operational between Joka and Majerhat ; completion will benefit lakhs along Diamond Harbour Road .
Construction required temporary relocation of Maidan clubs and special care to protect the Victoria Memorial .
Kolkata Metro Railway's Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), Durga, achieved a landmark breakthrough at the proposed Victoria Metro station on 10 July 2025, completing the underground tunnelling stretch between Kidderpore and Victoria on the city's Purple Line. The milestone was reached at approximately 10:30 am and marks exactly one year of tunnelling work since the machine was launched from Kidderpore on 10 July 2024.
Key Developments
The breakthrough was witnessed by Prem Sagar Gupta, General Manager of Metro Railway, Kolkata, alongside the Consul General of Nepal, the Commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Commissioner of Police (Howrah), and senior officials from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the project's executing agency.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw acknowledged the achievement on X, posting: 'Engineering excellence beneath the city. TBM Durga achieves breakthrough at Purple Line of Kolkata Metro. Congratulations to the team,' accompanied by a video of the breakthrough.
What the Officials Said
A senior Metro official noted that 'the successful breakthrough of TBM Durga demonstrates engineering excellence, meticulous planning, teamwork and the dedicated efforts of all stakeholders involved in the project.' The official added that the achievement 'represents an important step towards boosting Kolkata's urban transport infrastructure by providing faster, safer and more sustainable Metro connectivity.'
General Manager Gupta appreciated the commitment of project personnel who ensured 'safe, methodical, professional and efficient tunnelling while maintaining the highest standards of quality and safety without disturbing surface traffic movement.'
What Comes Next for TBM Durga
Having cleared the Kidderpore–Victoria stretch, TBM Durga will now advance beneath the Kolkata Maidan towards Park Street. The Blue Line already connects Park Street with Esplanade and further destinations, making the eventual Purple Line linkage a strategic addition to the city's metro network.
Notably, the tunnelling beneath the Maidan required careful coordination with the Local Military Authority, which oversees the area. Several clubs on the Maidan were temporarily relocated to facilitate construction, and special precautions were taken to avoid disturbing the iconic Victoria Memorial, a protected heritage landmark.
Purple Line: Progress and Delays
The Joka–Esplanade Purple Line corridor runs on an elevated viaduct from Joka to Kidderpore, transitioning to an underground alignment beyond that point. Services are already operational between Joka and Majerhat, providing daily connectivity to thousands of commuters along Diamond Harbour Road and surrounding localities.
The project has faced delays due to land acquisition challenges and pending clearances from the Local Military Authority. Once fully operational, the Purple Line is expected to benefit lakhs of residents in south-west Kolkata. The completion of TBM Durga's next leg towards Park Street will be a critical indicator of how soon that goal is within reach.
Point of View
But the Purple Line's troubled history — land acquisition delays, military authority clearances, club relocations — means celebration must be measured. The real test is how quickly TBM Durga can navigate the politically and logistically sensitive Maidan stretch to Park Street. With the Blue Line already serving Park Street, a Purple Line link there would create a meaningful interchange, but only if the remaining permissions and ground conditions cooperate. Kolkata's metro expansion has a pattern of milestone announcements followed by extended gaps; the pace of the next tunnel drive will reveal whether this momentum is sustained.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TBM Durga breakthrough at Victoria Metro station?
TBM Durga, the Tunnel Boring Machine deployed on Kolkata Metro's Purple Line, completed underground tunnelling between Kidderpore and the proposed Victoria Metro station on 10 July 2025. The milestone was achieved exactly one year after tunnelling commenced at Kidderpore on 10 July 2024.
What is the Kolkata Metro Purple Line and where does it run?
The Purple Line connects Joka in south-west Kolkata with Esplanade in the city centre. It runs on an elevated viaduct from Joka to Kidderpore and then goes underground, passing through Victoria and the Maidan toward Park Street and Esplanade. Services are currently operational between Joka and Majerhat.
Where will TBM Durga go next after the Victoria breakthrough?
TBM Durga will now advance beneath the Kolkata Maidan toward Park Street. This stretch requires clearances from the Local Military Authority, which oversees the Maidan, and involves careful engineering to avoid disturbing the Victoria Memorial.
Why has the Purple Line project faced delays?
The Joka–Esplanade corridor has been delayed primarily due to land acquisition challenges and pending permissions from the Local Military Authority for tunnelling under the Maidan. Several clubs on the Maidan also had to be temporarily relocated to allow construction to proceed.
Who was present at the TBM Durga breakthrough ceremony?
The breakthrough was witnessed by Prem Sagar Gupta, General Manager of Metro Railway Kolkata, along with the Consul General of Nepal, the Commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Commissioner of Police (Howrah), and senior officials from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and L&T, the executing agency.
