The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is gearing up to deploy its second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), named ‘Arjuna’, for the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel Project, taking another significant step towards constructing India’s longest urban road tunnel.
According to sources, Arjuna is expected to be commissioned within the next few days. If the launch is delayed, it is likely to be inaugurated on August 15. Along with the deployment of the new TBM, MMRDA is also planning to inaugurate the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) Phase 2, the Chembur Metro station on Metro Line 2B, and the Mumbai Monorail.
The development follows the successful launch of the first TBM, ‘Nayak’, in April this year. Nayak has already commenced excavation work from the Thane side, while Arjuna is expected to begin tunnelling shortly.
Initially, both TBMs will operate from the Thane end of the project. Excavation from the Borivali side will begin later, as land acquisition for that section is still underway.
MMRDA officials said a total of four Tunnel Boring Machines will be deployed for the project. Two machines will excavate from Thane, while the remaining two will begin operations from Borivali once the required land is made available.
The Borivali site was previously occupied by nearly 300 project-affected families. Most have already been rehabilitated through Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and MHADA housing schemes, while around 15 to 20 families are yet to be relocated.
Arjuna is a state-of-the-art, large-diameter single-shield hard-rock TBM specially designed to tunnel through the basalt rock formations beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The machine is equipped with advanced technologies, including a segment erector system, laser-guided positioning, and automatic segment detection to ensure precision, efficiency, and safety during excavation.
The ambitious 11.84-kilometre project consists of 10.25 kilometres of twin tunnels and 1.59 kilometres of connecting roads, linking Manpada in Thane to Ekta Nagar in Borivali. Each tunnel will accommodate three traffic lanes and will be constructed at depths of up to 23 metres below the surface.
Once completed, the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel is expected to reduce travel time between the two locations from more than an hour to approximately 15 minutes. The project is also expected to significantly ease traffic congestion, improve regional connectivity, and reduce vehicular emissions across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Source: Swarajya
