September 23, 2025: Mumbai is set to receive the first batch of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for its major underground infrastructure project at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) on September 24, officials confirmed. The arrival represents a significant milestone in expediting tunnelling operations, with a second set of TBMs scheduled to follow in the coming weeks.
Of the 21-kilometre tunnel, 4.8 kilometres have already been completed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). The remaining sections will now be excavated with the aid of TBMs. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated on Saturday that the machines had been dispatched from China aboard the vessel Chipol Xiongan, comprising 18 packages and two containers, with a total weight of 934 metric tonnes.
Upon arrival, the consignment will undergo customs clearance at JNPA before being transported to the tunnelling sites, a process expected to take around ten days. Unloading and relocation are likely to conclude by the first week of October.
Three TBMs, produced by German tunnelling specialist Herrenknecht at its Guangzhou facility, will operate through vertical shafts at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Vikhroli, and Sawli. Preparatory work, including the construction of a 42-metre inclined shaft at Ghansoli and a portal at Shilphata, is being carried out by engineering firm Afcons.
The delivery of the TBMs faced delays due to geopolitical tensions, including the India-China standoff in Galwan, with the shipment held up at a Chinese port since early 2025. Following intervention by India’s Ministry of Railways and Ministry of External Affairs, the issue was resolved through diplomatic channels. Sources added that the matter was also discussed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The arrival of these machines is expected to accelerate Mumbai’s underground project significantly, signalling a major step forward in the city’s infrastructure development.
Source: Construction World
