Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday officially launched a 5-kilometre underground section of the Kanpur Metro. This stretch includes the newly built Kanpur Central Station and 2.4 kilometres of completed tunnel, delivered by engineering firm Afcons Infrastructure Ltd. The contract for this section, designated as package KNPCC-06, was awarded on March 14, 2022. The scope includes 3.826 kilometres of underground rail, three metro stations—Kanpur Central, Jhakarkatti, and Transport Nagar—and twin tunnels constructed using shield Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs).
The project faced engineering hurdles, particularly due to deteriorating buildings along the tunnel route. Despite these conditions, Afcons completed the work safely and within schedule. Construction on the Kanpur Central Station began in December 2022. Tunnelling between Kanpur Central and Nawabganj started in August 2023 and has also been wrapped up successfully.
Afcons has been an integral part of the Kanpur Metro since the early stages. It previously executed the Priority Section (KNPCC-02), covering an elevated corridor with nine stations from IIT Kanpur to Motijheel. That segment was completed ahead of schedule, despite the pandemic, and became operational in June 2021.
With a strong presence in over 10 Indian cities, Afcons has led several major metro infrastructure projects across the country. These include India’s first underwater metro tunnel in Kolkata, a unique four-tier transport interchange, a 5.6-km double-decker viaduct in Nagpur, and one of the nation’s largest underground stations.
Afcons Infrastructure Ltd part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, brings over 60 years of experience in complex infrastructure delivery. Globally recognized, the company ranks among the top 140 international contractors and holds leading positions in bridge and marine construction according to the latest ENR rankings.
