Transportation, Skidding and Launch of India's Biggest TBM 'Mavala' by Freight Wings

The Coastal Road Project in Mumbai by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) required 3.45 km twin undersea tunnels to be constructed, starting from Priyadarshini Park and ending at Girgaum Chowpatty. BMC awarded the construction of this Coastal Road to Larsen & Toubro (L&T).

L&T specially imported a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Mavala with an excavation diameter of 12.19 meters, making it the largest TBM to be used in India. L&T was in a dilemma as their project was running behind schedule due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. As per their original linear plan, they were to dig a 25 m deep shaft and then assemble the TBM and gantries inside the shaft. This linear method meant that they could not commence assembly of the TBM and the gantries till the 25 m shaft was dug and ready. Moreover, assembly inside the 25 m deep shaft was costly, time consuming, and required very heavy crane solutions.

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