MahaMetro starts trial run of TBMs in Mumbai

The trial runs of two tunnel boring machines from Swargate and Civil Court Metro sites have started and the actual excavation work is all set to start shortly. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) placed at Swargate will proceed towards Mandai, while the TBM at the Civil Court site will excavate the tunnel towards Kasba Peth after passing under the Mutha riverbed. The tunnels would be excavated about 18 to 25 metres below the ground surface. The TBMs are expected to meet in the Mandai area, where they would be pulled out. Both the machines were assembled at the sites. This is the second phase of Metro tunnel excavation as in the first phase two TBMs completed the tunnels on the Agriculture College-Civil Court stretch. The work would gain momentum after the initial phase of excavation gets over.

MahaMetro had surveyed the buildings along the alignment of the tunnels and concluded that the buildings are unlikely to be affected by the work because the digging would be carried out deep under the ground level. But the company has put the structures in various categories and would observe the impact of the work on them. Hemant Sonawane, general manager (public relations), MahaMetro, informed that a detailed plan of the second phase of excavation has been prepared. The work will go ahead in a phased manner from both ends as the required technical experts and manpower have been put in place at both sites.