New Delhi, Jan 12:  Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna CPSU under the Ministry of Railways, has achieved an important early milestone on the Indore–Budni New Line Project with the successful completion of the first 100 metres of main tunnel excavation from Portal-1 of Tunnel-2 by RVNL’s PIU-Bhopal.

This milestone marks a strong and confident start to the construction of Tunnel-2, which has a total length of 8.6 km and forms a vital component of the Indore–Budni rail corridor. The tunnel passes through the villages of Kamlapur, Thalghewaria and Hatnora in the Bagli and Kannod tehsils of Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh.

The milestone was achieved in an approximately two-month period, despite the tunnel passing through Rock Class-V strata, one of the weakest, most fractured and geotechnically challenging rock conditions encountered in tunnelling projects. The tunnel alignment also passes beneath two active nalas located above the tunnel crown, adding further complexity due to potential groundwater ingress and surface instability.

On this occasion, CMD, RVNL, Shri Saleem Ahmad, said, “Achieving the first 100 metres of Tunnel-2 excavation in such weak and complex geological conditions is a commendable accomplishment by the RVNL team. This milestone reflects our strong focus on safety, engineering excellence and disciplined execution. RVNL will continue to adopt the best technologies and practices to ensure timely completion of the Indore–Budni New Line Project while maintaining the highest quality standards.”

To overcome these challenges, RVNL deployed advanced excavation methodologies, ensured immediate installation of primary support systems, and maintained continuous geotechnical monitoring to control deformation and ensure worker safety. The achievement underscores RVNL’s strong emphasis on engineering precision, safety management, and real-time decision-making in difficult terrain.

Once completed, the tunnel will significantly enhance rail connectivity, capacity augmentation, and operational efficiency on this strategically important route in Madhya Pradesh, supporting regional economic development and future traffic growth.