Latest news with #TunnelBoringMachines
New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tunnel road DPR cuts tunnelling timeline to 24 months
BENGALURU: Tunnelling for Bengaluru's proposed Tunnel Road project, initially estimated to take 33 months, has now been slashed to 24 months in the final Detailed Project Report (DPR). While experts call the projection unrealistic, official from Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) say the reduced timeline is possible due to the deployment of eight high-speed Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), as opposed to the earlier plan to use six medium to average-speed TBMs. The draft DPR had pegged the total project completion time at 61 months, of which 33 months were dedicated to tunnelling. The final DPR, however, brings down the overall project duration to 50 months, with just 24 months assigned for boring through 16.7 km. Speaking to TNIE, BS Prahallad, Director of B-SMILE, said, 'We initially planned for six TBMs with an average cutting speed of 90 metres per month, but the timeline was too long. To reduce the duration, we decided to both add more machines and upgrade to high-speed cutting models. Each high-speed TBM can cut a minimum of 200 meters per month—that's 2.4 kilometers per year, assuming ideal conditions.' 'One high-speed TBM can cut approximately 4 km in two years, and since the total tunnelling required is a little over 32 km, eight machines can complete it in two years,' he explained. Experts, however, voiced their concerns with regard to timeline. Ashish Verma, professor of transportation systems engineering at IISc, said, 'The type of rock or surface you encounter during tunneling is not always predictable. These uncertainties are rarely factored into the timelines. Based on Bengaluru's past experience, especially with Metro tunneling, unexpected challenges are common. Government inefficiency and delays in land acquisition also contribute significantly.' 'If adding two TBMs saves nine months, why not add two more and claim it'll be done in a year? It is disappointing that the DPR has arbitrarily determined the construction period. If the assumptions in the DPR are unrealistic, which it is, there will be no credible contractor or developer who will bid for the tenders because of the unrealistic timelines. Has the BBMP considered the cost implications of additional TBMs?', questioned Satya Arikutharam, an independent mobility expert.
New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tunnel road DPR cuts project timeline to 24 months
BENGALURU: Tunneling for Bengaluru's proposed Tunnel Road project, initially estimated to take 33 months, has now been slashed to 24 months in the final Detailed Project Report (DPR). While experts call the projection unrealistic, official from Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE) say the reduced timeline is possible due to the deployment of eight high-speed Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), as opposed to the earlier plan to use six medium to average-speed TBMs. The draft DPR had pegged the total project completion time at 61 months, of which 33 months were dedicated to tunneling. The final DPR, however, brings down the overall project duration to 50 months, with just 24 months assigned for boring through 16.7 km. Speaking to TNIE, BS Prahallad, Director of B-SMILE, said, 'We initially planned for six TBMs with an average cutting speed of 90 metres per month, but the timeline was too long. To reduce the duration, we decided to both add more machines and upgrade to high-speed cutting models. Each high-speed TBM can cut a minimum of 200 meters per month—that's 2.4 kilometers per year, assuming ideal conditions.' 'One high-speed TBM can cut approximately 4 km in two years, and since the total tunneling required is a little over 32 km, eight machines can complete it in two years,' he explained. Experts, however, voiced their concerns with regard to timeline. Ashish Verma, professor of transportation systems engineering at IISc, said, 'The type of rock or surface you encounter during tunneling is not always predictable. These uncertainties are rarely factored into the timelines. Based on Bengaluru's past experience, especially with Metro tunneling, unexpected challenges are common. Government inefficiency and delays in land acquisition also contribute significantly.' 'If adding two TBMs saves nine months, why not add two more and claim it'll be done in a year? It is disappointing that the DPR has arbitrarily determined the construction period. If the assumptions in the DPR are unrealistic, which it is, there will be no credible contractor or developer who will bid for the tenders because of the unrealistic timelines. Has the BBMP considered the cost implications of additional TBMs?', questioned Satya Arikutharam, an independent mobility expert.
News18
29-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Mumbai road project: SC asks Tree Authority to consider tree felling plea of BMC
New Delhi, Jul 29 (PTI) Observing that a balance between environment protection and development is necessary, the Supreme Court on Tuesday permitted the Tree Authority to decide on a plea of the civic body BMC for felling 95 trees in Mumbai's Film City for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a plea of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is responsible for the ambitious GMLR project, seeking the apex court's nod for felling the trees for the first phase. The GMLR project envisages developing road connectivity from Western Express Highway to Eastern Express Highway to reduce travel time by almost an hour between Mulund and Goregaon. The BMC says that these 95 trees are required to be cut for operating the Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and launching shaft work for the tunnelling work. For digging the pit structure, it is required to clear ground space and, in the process, a certain number of trees are required to be felled, the Tree Authority said in the application. The BMC filed the plea keeping in mind the January 10 order of the top court by which it had directed the Tree Authority of the civic body not to allow any further tree felling in Mumbai's Aarey colony without its permission. The civic body said that the area, where tree felling was proposed, falls under the Film City and not under Aarey Colony, and yet they filed the plea in the top court as part of abundant caution. 'No doubt, the protection of the environment is important and it has been held by this court in several judgements keeping in mind the principle of inter-generational equity," the CJI said. 'However, the development cannot be ignored … The development of infrastructure is also necessary. Unless proper infrastructure is put in place, the country cannot progress," the CJI said. The bench asked the BMC to file the report of the experts on the issue alongside the afforestation plan. The bench made clear that no tree can be felled without its prior nod and fixed the plea of the BMC for hearing on August 12. The trees to be felled are for the 6.2km twin tunnels, which are part of the 5.3km GMLR between Film City, Goregaon, and Khindipada (Amar Nagar), Mulund. 'The project involves development of a road through a tunnel to preserve the green space on the ground," the Tree Authority said while seeking permission to cut the trees. The top court's earlier order, asking the Tree Authority of the BMC not to allow any further tree felling in Mumbai's Aarey colony without its permission, was passed in connection with the car shade project of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL). The apex court had directed the Maharashtra government to inform if there was any proposal to fell more trees in Aarey forest. The court had in 2023 permitted some forest-dwelling communities to move the Bombay High Court with their grievances over the felling of trees in the forest for the metro rail project. PTI SJK SJK RT RT (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 17:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
14-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project chugs ahead: Ghansoli-Shilphata section of 21 km undersea tunnel ready
Marking a major milestone in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, the first section of the 21-km undersea tunnel between Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane was opened recently, an official statement said. Out of the total 21 km of tunnel, 5 km between Shilphata and Ghansoli in Maharashtra was constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), while the remaining 16 km is being built using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). The tunnel also includes a 7-km-long undersea section beneath Thane Creek. The statement said the high-speed train project recently achieved another milestone: constructing a 310 km viaduct. 'Track laying, construction of overhead electrical wires, stations, and bridges is going on at a rapid pace,' it added. The entire 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor – 352 km in Gujarat and 156 km in Maharashtra – is being developed with Japanese Shinkansen technology. After the completion of the project, next-generation E10 trains are likely to run on the high-speed tracks. 'Japanese Shinkansen is currently running E5 trains. Next generation trains are E10. In the spirit of strategic partnership between Japan and India, the Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project,' the statement said. It is noteworthy that E10 will be introduced simultaneously in India and Japan. The success of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is laying the foundation for future bullet train corridors in India. As per the statement, future corridors are also under active consideration. The work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed bullet train project is going on in full swing in Maharashtra, with major structural and tunnelling milestones being achieved, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said on Saturday. According to the NHSRCL, work on all three elevated stations in the state — Thane, Virar, and Boisar — is advancing swiftly, and the first slabs for Virar and Boisar stations have recently been cast.
India Gazette
11-07-2025
- General
- India Gazette
2.7 km long continuous tunnel completed with first breakthrough in 21 km tunnel between BKC and Shilphata
Shilphata (Maharashtra) [India] July 11 (ANI): On July 9, the first breakthrough was achieved in the 21 km long tunnel being constructed between Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Shilphata in Maharashtra, marking the successful completion of a 2.7 km continuous tunnel section. Out of the total 21 km tunnel, 5 km is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) between Shilphata and Ghansoli, while the remaining 16 km will be built using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). The tunnel also includes a 7 km long undersea section beneath Thane Creek. To expedite tunnelling in the NATM portion, an Additionally Driven Intermediate Tunnel (ADIT) was constructed, allowing simultaneous excavation towards Ghansoli and Shilphata sides. So far, about 1.62 km has been excavated from the Shilphata side, and the total progress in the NATM section stands at approximately 4.3 km. Comprehensive safety measures have been implemented at the site, including ground settlement markers, piezometers, inclinometers, strain gauges, and biometric access control systems to ensure safe and controlled tunnelling activities without disturbing nearby structures. The work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed bullet train project is going on in full swing in Maharashtra, with major structural and tunnelling milestones being achieved, according to the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said on Saturday. According to the NHSRCL, work on all three elevated stations in the state, Thane, Virar, and Boisar, is advancing swiftly, and the first slabs for Virar and Boisar stations have recently been cast. Across the alignment, pier foundations and pier works are underway at various locations, with approximately 44 km of piers cast to date. In the Palghar district, viaduct construction has also commenced using full-span box girder launching technology, starting from the Dahanu area. Additionally, the excavation of seven mountain tunnels in the Palghar district is actively in progress, demonstrating the project's engineering scale and complexity. Bridge construction has also kicked off at three major rivers: Vaitarna, Ulhas, and Jagani, further contributing to the corridor's critical infrastructure. An important component of the project is the 21-kilometre-long underground and undersea tunnel connecting the Mumbai Bullet Train station at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Shilphata. Of the 21 km tunnel, 16 km is being excavated using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), while 5 km is being executed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). The tunnel includes a 7 km undersea stretch beneath Thane Creek, marking a significant feat in Indian tunnelling history. So far, approximately 4.1 km of tunnel heading has been achieved through NATM from the Shilphata site, and two concurrent faces have been developed from the ADIT portal. In terms of vertical construction, base slab casting at the Vikhroli shaft (56 meters deep) and Sawli shaft (39 meters deep) has been completed. Additionally, sludge treatment plants are being installed at shaft locations, and the Mahape tunnel lining casting yard is actively producing tunnel lining segments. For the under-construction Mumbai Bullet Train station at Bandra Kurla Complex, 80% of the excavation work has been completed. Base slab casting at 100 ft below ground level has already started at both ends of the station site, NHSRCL added. (ANI)
