Another milestone for tunnelling in India and another milestone for tunnelling in Mumbai has been achieved yesterday (30 April). TBM Vaitarna-2 completed boring one of the hardest and the longest stretches of  Colaba-SEEPZ route. Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) declares the 28th breakthrough in the CSMT to Mumbai Central route.

MML-3 is a 33.5 KMs long underground corridor running along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ. Length of the corridor is marked with 27 key stations out of which 26 will be underground and 1 at grade.

MMRC Press Declaration:

Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 Corridor

MMRC completes 28th breakthrough from CSMT to Mumbai Central

Mumbai, April  30,  2020 –Mumbai  Metro  Rail  Corporation  (MMRC)  today  achieved  yet  another milestone  with  its  28th  breakthrough  from  Chhatrapati  Shivaji Maharaj  Terminus  to  Mumbai  Central. Vaitarna-2 is the first TBM to complete the stretch of 4km in a single drive.

Vaitarna-2,  the  Tunnel  Boring  Machine  (TBM)  of  this  package  was  commissioned  on  February  2,  2018 from  CSMT  launching  shaft  and  completed  its longest  run  at  Mumbai  Central  station  with  2,730  RCC rings."

This  part  of  the  tunneling  was  very  challenging  particularly  because  the  alignment  runs  very close to old and dilapidated buildings and also parallel to the sea shore and very shallow ground water  table  which  is  approximately  1-4  meters  below  only",  said  Mr.Ranjit  Singh  Deol, Managing Director, MMRC.

"Another  challenge  posed  before  the  team  was  the  outbreak  of  COVID-19.  However,  we ensured  physical  distancing  and  strictly  followed  all  the  guidelines  stipulated  by  the  state government”, said Mr.Deol further.

The  4-km  long  tunneling,  on  the  Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ  Metro-3  Corridor,  includes  the  construction  of five  underground  stations  beginning  from  Chatrapati  Shivaji  Maharaj  Terminus  to  Mumbai Central  via Kalbadevi, Girgaon and Grant Road.

https://www.mmrcl.com/sites/default/files/Press%20Release%20-%2028th%20breakthrough%20from%20CSMT%20to%20Mumbai%20Central.pdf