The Japanese-made tunnel boring machine (TBM) is ready to make its way through Ho Chi Minh City’s underground in preparation for Saigon’s metro line, the largest underground passage in Vietnam.

The machine is set to begin boring the 781 meter tunnel from Ba Son Terminal to the Municipal Theater Terminal in District 1 on Friday to make way for a section of the city’s metro line No.1 connecting Ben Thanh Station in District 1 with Suoi Tien Station in District 9.

Engineers of the project finished assembling the TBM on Thursday, just in time to stay on schedule.

Measuring 70 meters long and weighing 300 metric tons, the machine includes a 12.5 meter primary drill, an engine room, a control room, and a cement mortar supply chamber.

According to the engineers, the TBM was manufactured in Japan and imported into Vietnam in January.

As per procedure, the TBM will reinforce the inside of the tunnel with a 0.3 meter layer of concrete after digging every 1.2 meter.

The diameter of the underground passage is expected to be 60.5 meters.

Specialized machines have also been installed to monitor the conditions of streets and houses above the surface to ensure safety during the subterranean operation.

The boring is anticipated to be complete in December this year.

Take a look at these photos of the preparation before the digging operation:

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