Doha, April 21 (QNA) - Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail said Tuesday it completed nearly 20km of the tunnel-digging on the Doha Metro project. The company projected end of the digging process will come at the second quarter of 2017 as the end of the digging process.
The announcement was made today in a press conference held by Qatar Rail, in which it provided the most recent milestones shaping the path of the company’s near future undertakings.
The company confirmed it has received 21 Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) assigned for the project. The machines were imported from German company Herrenknecht.
Commenting on the occasion, Managing Director of Qatar Rail Abdulla Abdulaziz Al Subaie said: "Today, we are pleased to announce the completion of nearly 20km of tunnels out of 113km; a development that we at Qatar Rail are proud of." He then expressed his thanks to "all workers and stakeholders contributing to the success of this national project in alignment with Qatar’s National vision 2030, the Doha Metro tunneling works are progressing as planned in adherence to global standards." Al Subaie noted that Qatar Rail was currently undertaking three major projects in the Doha Metro, Lusail Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Long Distance Network for Passengers and Freight.
He expressed his confidence that the project was on the right path and highlighted the launch of the tunnel boring machines (TBM) in the Doha Metro lines. He added that: "Keeping our residents and citizens convenience in mind, Qatar Rail was keen to implement most of the metro project underground where TBMs interfere very little with our vibrant city life through advanced technology and eco-friendly mechanism."
The TBMs are a key component in implementing the Doha Metro innovative project; a high-tech mechanized alternative to conventional methods of design-and-build mining, drilling and blasting tunnels through everything from soft ground to hard rocks. They form circular tunnels through the rock, and can install concrete linings along the drilled sections to reinforce the bored tunnel and stabilize the ground.
