First TBM begins tunnelling for Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train underground section

Mumbai: The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project crossed a major construction milestone on Sunday with the country's largest rail Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) beginning excavation from Vikhroli for the underground tunnel leading to the upcoming Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station. Although Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was scheduled to flag off the launch, the  event was cancelled due to heavy rain. The tunnelling work, however, is set to proceed as planned. The 13.6-metre diameter Mixshield TBM will construct a 6-km single-tube tunnel that will carry both up and down Bullet Train tracks. It forms part of the 21-km underground section of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor. Of this, 16 km between Sawli in Ghansoli and BKC will be excavated using Tunnel Boring Machines, while the remaining 5 km has already been completed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). Weighing around 3,100 tonnes and stretching 96 metres in length, the TBM is among the largest ever deployed for a rail tunnel project in India. It will pass beneath densely populated areas, including roads, multi-storeyed buildings, the Mithi River and other key infrastructure. Officials said the Mixshield technology was selected because it is designed to work safely in mixed soil conditions and areas with high groundwater pressure while keeping ground settlement and surface disturbance to a minimum. Mumbai 4.0 Takes Shape In Palghar As Mega Airport, Vadhavan Port, Bullet Train & Expressways Transform MMR's Growth Map The machine is capable of carrying out tunnel excavation and installation of concrete lining segments simultaneously, allowing faster and safer construction. To support the operation, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited has built a 56-metre-deep launch shaft at Vikhroli along with slurry and water treatment plants, bentonite storage facilities, a dedicated power substation, backup generators, a concrete grouting plant and other support infrastructure. Authorities have also installed an extensive real-time monitoring system to track ground movement, vibrations and structural behaviour throughout the tunnelling process. Instruments such as settlement markers, tilt meters, strain gauges, seismographs and 3D monitoring targets will help ensure the safety of nearby buildings and utilities during excavation. Meanwhile, an 11.17-hectare casting yard at Mahape in Thane is producing 77,000 precast concrete segments required for the tunnel lining. These will form 7,700 rings, with each ring weighing nearly 100 tonnes. The tunnel is being designed as a fully waterproof structure using double-layer EPDM gaskets and hydrophilic seals to prevent water ingress and ensure long-term durability. The start of TBM excavation marks one of the most technically challenging phases of the Bullet Train project in Mumbai. Once completed, the underground section will provide the crucial link between the city and the rest of the 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

India's first bullet train project inches closer to reality as a massive tunnel boring machine begins excavating the underground corridor in Mumbai. This crucial phase includes constructing a 21-km tunnel, featuring the nation's first 7-km undersea rail tunnel beneath Thane Creek. The advanced machines are set to accelerate work on this technically challenging section, marking a significant milestone for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail.

Mumbai: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is scheduled to launch the first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the Mumbai underground section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project on Sunday, July 5. The launch will take place at the Vikhroli shaft, from where the giant machine will begin tunnelling towards Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). The event is expected to go ahead despite the weather department issuing a yellow alert for rain in Mumbai on the same day. The launch marks a major milestone in India's first high-speed rail corridor. The 13.6-metre diameter TBM, weighing over 3,000 tonnes, has been assembled at the Vikhroli site after its massive 350-tonne cutterhead was recently lowered into the shaft. The machine will excavate nearly 6 km of the 21-km underground section between BKC and Thane, including a 7-km undersea tunnel beneath Thane Creek. The large diameter of the TBM will allow both the up and down bullet train tracks to pass through a single tunnel, making it one of the biggest rail tunnelling machines deployed in the country. According to senior project officials, the TBM will continue tunnelling at a planned speed even during the monsoon after the inauguration. "The machine is designed to operate safely through the rainy season. Once the launch is completed, excavation will continue as per the project schedule," a senior official said.India's First Tunnel Hood Technology Debuts On Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train To Curb Pressure Waves And Noise Sources also said that the second TBM, being assembled at the Ghansoli shaft, is in the final stages of assembly and is expected to begin excavation by the end of July. Once both machines are operational, underground construction is expected to gather pace significantly. The Mumbai underground stretch is considered one of the most challenging parts of the ₹1.08 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project. The tunnel will pass beneath densely populated areas and the Mithi River, requiring continuous monitoring through advanced instruments such as settlement sensors, tilt meters, strain gauges and vibration monitoring systems to ensure the safety of nearby structures.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Mumbai: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is scheduled to launch the first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the Mumbai underground section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project on Sunday, July 5. The launch will take place at the Vikhroli shaft, from where the giant machine will begin tunnelling towards Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC). The event is expected to go ahead despite the weather department issuing a yellow alert for rain in Mumbai on the same day. The launch marks a major milestone in India's first high-speed rail corridor. The 13.6-metre diameter TBM, weighing over 3,000 tonnes, has been assembled at the Vikhroli site after its massive 350-tonne cutterhead was recently lowered into the shaft. The machine will excavate nearly 6 km of the 21-km underground section between BKC and Thane, including a 7-km undersea tunnel beneath Thane Creek. The large diameter of the TBM will allow both the up and down bullet train tracks to pass through a single tunnel, making it one of the biggest rail tunnelling machines deployed in the country. According to senior project officials, the TBM will continue tunnelling at a planned speed even during the monsoon after the inauguration. "The machine is designed to operate safely through the rainy season. Once the launch is completed, excavation will continue as per the project schedule," a senior official said.India's First Tunnel Hood Technology Debuts On Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train To Curb Pressure Waves And Noise Sources also said that the second TBM, being assembled at the Ghansoli shaft, is in the final stages of assembly and is expected to begin excavation by the end of July. Once both machines are operational, underground construction is expected to gather pace significantly. The Mumbai underground stretch is considered one of the most challenging parts of the ₹1.08 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project. The tunnel will pass beneath densely populated areas and the Mithi River, requiring continuous monitoring through advanced instruments such as settlement sensors, tilt meters, strain gauges and vibration monitoring systems to ensure the safety of nearby structures.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/