Afcons Infrastructure signs ₹6,371 cr civil contract for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has today signed a contract with Afcons Infrastructure Limited for the Construction of 20.377 km Long Tunnel including India’s First 7 km Long Undersea Rail Tunnel in the State of Maharashtra for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor under MAHSR C-2 package.

The scope of work under contract package MAHSR C-2 includes construction of tunnelling works including Testing and Commissioning for Double Line High Speed Railway using (TBM) and (NATM) between Mumbai Underground Station at Bandra-Kurla Complex (MAHSR Km. 0.773) and Shilphata (MAHSR Km. 21.150) on Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project.

In April this year, Afcons Infrastructure Limited emerged as the lowest bidder by beating Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) which was the only second bidder. Technical bids were opened on 9th February 2023.

Tender notice for the above contract package was issued in September 2022 with 1,888 days work completion deadline. 

“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 and Shilphata in the State of Maharashtra.

The 7 km (approx.) undersea tunnel at Thane Creek (Intertidal Zone) will be the First under sea rail tunnel to come up in the country.

The tunnel will be a single tube tunnel to accommodate twin track for both-up and down track. 39 equipment rooms at 37 locations will also be constructed adjoining tunnel location as part of the package.

To construct this tunnel, TBMs with a cutter head of 13.1 Meter diameter will be used. Usually 5-6 Meter Diameter cutter heads are used for urban tunnels used in MRTS – Metro system.

Three Tunnel Boring Machines will be used to make about 16 km of the tunnel portion and the remaining 5 km will be through New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).

This tunnel will be about 25 to 65 Meters deep from the ground level.

Three shafts at BKC (under package C1), Vikhroli, and Sawli at approximate depths of 36, 56 and 39 Meter depths respectively will facilitate the construction. Inclined Shaft of 42 Meter at Ghansoli and Tunnel portal at Shilphata will facilitate the construction of approx. 5 km of tunnel through NATM tunnelling method.

The 508.17 km Mumbai - Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor will connect Mumbai (in Maharashtra) to Ahmedabad (in Gujarat) with 12 bullet train stations.

For more details, please explore the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail page of Metro Rail Today.