Jaipur, Oct. 11 -- Jaipur Metro began tunnelling work on its Rs.1,511-crore extension from Badi Chaupar to Transport Nagar on Saturday, with services targeted for March-April 2028. The official completion deadline, however, is September 2028. Chief secretary V Srinivas launched a tunnel boring machine (TBM) at Galta Gate for Phase 1C, which will extend the existing metro corridor eastward through the historic walled city. The approximately 3.80-kilometre extension will include around three kilometres of underground track and 800 metres of elevated sections and ramps. "The TBM has been launched at Galta Gate. Our target is to have it reach Badi Chaupar by June-July 2027," Jaipur Metro chairman and managing director Vaibhav Galaria said. "The tunnel will then connect with the existing Phase 1B section, allowing metro services to continue from Badi Chaupar to Galta Gate and Transport Nagar." The project will have two stations: an underground station at Galta Gate and an elevated station at Transport Nagar. Two parallel tunnels, each approximately 2.25 kilometres long, will be linked by seven cross passages to allow passengers to evacuate during emergencies. Tunnelling beneath densely populated neighbourhoods, old buildings and busy markets is among the project's principal engineering challenges. Excavating roads along the alignment could disrupt traffic and trade and pose risks to surrounding structures. "Tunnel construction between Badi Chaupar and Galta Gate is a major civil engineering challenge. It will be completed in accordance with established standards," chief secretary V Srinivas said. He also referred to the proposed 42-kilometre Phase 2 corridor, estimated to cost Rs.13,500 crore. "The government is committed to Phase 2, and budget and resources are being allocated for it," he said....