The tunnel boring machine (TBM) would be arriving from China within the next week
Tunnelling work for the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 underground corridor for Azad Maidan in South Mumbai will begin in October. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) would be arriving from China within the next week.
Earlier last week, the MMRC recevied the first of the 17 TBMs from China. That particular TBM machine will be used to construct a 6.10-km long tunnel between Dharavi and Siddhivinayak Metro stations, with Shitla Devi and Dadar stations in between, for which the machine will be launched from Naya Nagar in Mahim.
SK Gupta, director (projects), MMRC, said, "Tunnelling work from Azad Maidan in CST will begin in October, followed by work for Vidyanagari in November, Pali ground at Andheri also in November, and for Cuffe Parade in February or March. We would again like to assure that people do not fear their buildings could collapse due to the tunnelling work. MMRC is taking ample precautions to avoid any incident."
The TBM is a highly-mechanised Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) device that will be used around 20-25 metres below the ground to construct tunnels with a circular cross-section. The parts of the machine —the front shield, middle shield, cutter head, erector, screw conveyor and tail-skin shield — will be assembled in a period of 45 days.
"Around 100 workers including experts, engineers and labourers would be working in two shifts of 12 hours. Tunnelling work will be ongoing for approximately two years, with work continuining day and night, 24 hours a day," said Gupta
He added that MMRC is trying to get chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to innagurate the tunnelling work the first time they start the cutting process.
According to MMRC officials, the precast segments essential for forming a concrete ring inside the tunnel are already being manufactured at six different casting yards. About 40,000 segment rings are required for the entire project which will be cast in 65 moulds imported from France and Korea.
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