The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has completed the assembly of the first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR), marking a significant milestone in one of Mumbai’s largest road infrastructure projects. The machine will be used to excavate one of the twin underground tunnels that form a key part of the east-west connectivity corridor.
Installed at the launch shaft near Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon, the TBM has successfully cleared its Site Acceptance Test, during which its mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, control and safety systems were thoroughly evaluated. Excavation work will begin after the remaining technical inspections are completed.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar visited the project site on Wednesday to review the progress and issued directions to officials overseeing the construction.
The Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project involves the construction of two parallel tunnels connecting Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon with Khindipada in Mulund. Each tunnel will extend 4.7 km, creating a faster east-west transport link across Mumbai.
The tunnel will have a diameter of 14.2 metres along most of its alignment, which will narrow to 13 metres while passing beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park to minimise environmental impact.
The TBM being deployed is a Single Shield Earth Pressure Balance hard rock machine equipped with a cutter head measuring 14.49 metres in diameter. The machine is 83 metres long, comprising a 22-metre shield section and a 61-metre, three-level backup gantry.
It is also fitted with a fully automated muck handling system that includes a 340-metre conveyor belt along with cross and stacker conveyors. This system is designed to efficiently transport excavated material, improving productivity while maintaining safety throughout the tunnelling process.
Bangar said excavation will commence after all mandatory technical tests are completed. He also reaffirmed that the BMC is targeting completion of the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road project by February 2029, when the corridor is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Mumbai’s eastern and western suburbs.
Source: Swarajya
