Herrenknecht has been selected to supply two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MRCP) which involves construction of the Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR) spanning 22.93 kilometers.
Packages C and D are the two parallel underground tunneling packages of the VDLR project, each 3.1 kilometers long. The proposed project will connect the suburbs of Versova and Dahisar along Mumbai’s west coast, thereby reducing traffic congestion on major roads such as the Western Express Highway. The underground tunnel sections will play a crucial role, especially in connecting sensitive areas such as the city center and densely built-up urban areas. Once the new road section is completed, travel time between Versova and Dahisar will be reduced by 70%, a crucial improvement for millions of commuters in Mumbai.
Each of the two Herrenknecht Mixshield TBMs has a diameter of 15.62 meter, making them the largest TBMs in India. The Mixshields are optimally designed for the region’s challenging geology: slightly weathered basalt with a unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of up to 150 MPa. The cover of the tunnels varies between around 13 and 23 meters. To work safely under these conditions, the TBMs are designed for a maximum pressure of 5 bar. The two machines are manufactured in the Herrenknecht factory in Chennai, India, using core components from Schwanau, Germany.
Dr.-Ing. Eh Martin Herrenknecht, CEO of Herrenknecht, said: The tunnel sections of the Versova-Dahisar Link Road are an example of sustainable urban mobility. Few other countries are investing as ambitiously in the expansion of infrastructure as India. We are proud to support this important project with our technologies and be part of India’s dynamic growth story.”