As dawn broke on 9 May 2020, a small group of tunnel engineers and workers cheered in celebration through their face-masks, as one of two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) for the tunnel drive codenamed TU4, finally broke through at Ampang Park Station.

The two TBMs had been on a steady underground journey from Conlay Station, with the second machine slated to emerge at Ampang Park Station in mid-July.

From 10 May 2020 onwards, seven more TBMs successfully completed their tunnel drives (including four more breakthroughs) at various sites within the Underground section of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Putrajaya Line project.

While their significance may be lost on the uninitiated, tunnel breakthroughs are major milestones for industry insiders, and mark the completion of daunting journeys, having overcome both technical and environmental challenges.

The achievements of the MMC-Gamuda KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd (MGKT) underground team are even more worthy of celebration as they were executed within the challenging constraints of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Deputy Director – Tunnel, Ng Hau Wei shared, “Safety concerns regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus were indubitable, but when it comes to building or tunnelling underground, the longer an element is left unattended, the higher the risk of collapse, sinkholes or ground settlement.”

This is especially true for TBMs, which operate in highly sensitive environments, at varying levels of depth between 6m-50m below the ground, with tall buildings or other structures above.

Cognisant of these safety concerns; the government allowed MGKT to push ahead with critical works throughout the MCO, as suppliers, workers and sub-contractors, were quickly recalled to work.

MGKT’s frontliners promptly resumed work, implementing safety procedures including body temperature screening, face masks and regular sanitisation of work sites as well as the TBMs, to stem the possible spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Despite these risks, the commitment and passion of the tunnellers fuelled a final push to complete this series of breakthroughs for the MRT Putrajaya Line project.