Afcons Infra to use largest tunnel boring machine for MAHSR's undersea bullet train project

Mumbai, India (Metro Rail Today): The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) recently signed a contract worth Rs 6,371 crore with Afcons Infrastructure Ltd for constructing India’s first undersea tunnel, which is part of a 21-kilometre-long tunnel for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed bullet train project. The undersea rail tunnel at Thane creek will be 7-km long and around 25 to 65 metres below the ground level. 16 km of the tunnel will be executed using Tunnel Boring Machines and 5 km will be constructed with the new Austrian Tunnelling Methodology (NATM).

To excute this contract, Afcons Infrastructure will deploy one of the largest Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) by the next year for digging India’s first undersea rail tunnel as a part of the contract package MAHSR-C2 of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed bullet train project.

Earlier, the country’s largest TBM (nicknamed Mavala) of 12.2 meters diameter was used for the Mumbai Coastal Road project, but the TBM being to be used for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project will be even larger with a diameter of 13.1 meters.

A total of 20 TBMs will be deployed by Afcons Infrastructure for various underground projects this financial year. “A total of 17 TBMs are being mobilised this year and three more will be deployed early next year. “We own all these TBMs, and we are probably the only organisation in the country, at present, to own and deploy so many TBMs at a time,” said V Manivannan, Director, Construction Plant and Equipment (CPE), Afcons Infrastruture Ltd, TIE reported.

“Our equipment fleet is strategic, not generic in nature. Most of our equipment are custom built and that’s why we are capable of taking on technically challenging projects, and complete them on time or ahead of schedule,” he added.

“Construction of 21 km of tunnel is one of the most challenging contracts of Mumbai- Ahmedabad HSR corridor, which includes construction of country’s first twin track under sea rail tunnel of 7 km at Thane Creek. Three Tunnel Boring Machines and New Austrian Tunnelling Method will be used for the construction of this tunnel,” said Rajendra Prasad, Managing Director, NHSRCL.

The 21 km long tunnel will be between underground station at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Shilphata in the State of Maharashtra.