Pune: Within six months after the work of the Metro project began in Pimpri-Chinchwad area, the first via-duct segment of Pune Metro project was launched on Thursday at Kharalwadi in Pimpri Chinchwad. This is a major step towards completion of the project, which is expected to change the face of Pune city.

According to Metro officials, the segment has been built using

Pre-Stressed Segmental Box Girder technology. The 45-tonne segment was launched using 200-tonne crane. Normally, 10 segments are needed to complete a 28-metre girder. Once these segments are placed on ‘steel support’, they are aligned and joined together with pre-stressing forces to act as a single unit.

The segments are cast and cured in specially prepared casting yard at Nashik Phata. The segments undergo stringent quality checks including Ultra-Sonic Pulse Velocity Test before the same is brought to the site for launching purpose. On completion of substantial part of via-duct, the work of fixing the metro track and electric traction will start.

Thus, the launching of via-duct segments is set to bring cheers to Puneites as a major milestone has been achieved. This is the second major event in as many days, after MahaMetro tied up with Bureau Veritas to set up a state-of-the-art laboratory to test the quality of material being used at various levels and varied purposes of the Metro project.