Mumbai’s Coastal Road North project is moving closer to its underground construction phase, with two massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) expected to arrive in the city by January 2027. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has completed a key preparatory milestone after both machines successfully cleared their Factory Acceptance Tests in Chennai.
The equipment will be transported to Mumbai in separate consignments and assembled at the construction site in Charkop. Excavation of the twin tunnels connecting Malad and Kandivali is scheduled to begin in May 2027.
3.9-Km Underground Link Between Malad and Kandivali
The proposed tunnels will extend for 3.9 km, linking Mindspace in Malad with Charkop in Kandivali at an approximate depth of 40 metres. This underground section forms part of the 22.93-km Coastal Road North corridor connecting Versova and Dahisar.
The tunnelling contract has been awarded to Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL), while Germany-based Herrenknecht is manufacturing the machines. Each TBM will have a diameter of 15.6 metres, placing them among the largest machines of their kind deployed in India.
Specialised Technology for Difficult Terrain
The BMC has selected mixshield slurry technology to handle challenging ground conditions along the alignment, particularly near creeks and mangrove stretches where loose soil and groundwater could complicate excavation.
The machines will maintain pressure at the tunnel face to prevent ground collapse and water seepage. Excavated soil will be combined with water and transported through pipelines to a treatment facility. Each machine will have a slurry processing capacity of around 2,900 cubic metres per hour. Similar technology was used during the initial phase of Mumbai’s Coastal Road near Girgaon Chowpatty.
Rs 16,621-Crore Infrastructure Corridor
The overall Coastal Road North project carries an estimated cost of Rs 16,621 crore and includes elevated stretches, bridges and underground sections. The northbound tunnel is budgeted at Rs 2,911 crore, while the southbound tunnel is estimated at Rs 2,910 crore.
Preparatory activities, including piling and construction of the launching shaft, are currently underway. Once completed, the corridor is expected to provide an additional north-south connection, ease pressure on existing roads and improve travel across Mumbai’s western suburbs.
Source: Mumbai Live
