MRT Jakarta Tunnel Boring Machine Unites Major City Stations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - MRT Jakarta’s tunnel boring machine 1, or TBM 1 successfully permeated the Bundaran HI station northern shaft wall on March 20th marking the complete connection of three stations in downtown Jakarta; the Bundaran HI, Thamrin, and Monas MRT stations.

To date, the TBM 1 has completed the northbound 563-meter tunnel starting from Thamrin station’s south up to Bundaran HI on the northern side of the tunnel. In total, the giant drilling machine has opened the tunnel’s total length of 1,126 meters.

MRT Jakarta spokesperson Ahmad Pratomo on Tuesday said the TBM 1 will be dismantled and moved to Monas station’s northern side to continue the southern part of the project. 

“This tunnel’s length will roughly cover 1,029 meters,” he said in a statement on March 28.

As reported previously, the project’s TBM 2 managed to connect the Thamrin and Monas stations on December 15 last year. This machine has since opened up the one-kilometer tunnel from Monas station leading to Harmoni station. 

The phase 2A MRT project will later connect the Bundaran HI Station to Kota for about 5.8 kilometers and will consist of seven underground stations, namely Thamrin, Monas, Harmoni, Sawah Besar, Mangga Besar, Glodok, and Kota.

AMY HEPPY

Editor's Choice: Can We Trust Machines Doing the News?

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News