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Mumbai's Mega Tunnel: Giant Machines Dig Under the City
8 Nov
Summary
- Giant tunnel boring machines are undergoing testing for Mumbai's coastal road extension.
- The 3.9-km twin tunnels will be among India's largest road tunnels.
- Environmental concerns arise regarding mangrove impact despite traffic easing plans.
Mumbai is progressing with its Coastal Road extension, featuring twin 3.9-km underground tunnels designed to alleviate suburban traffic congestion. Giant tunnel boring machines (TBMs), among the largest in India with a 15.6-meter cutterhead diameter, are undergoing crucial testing in Chennai. These TBMs will excavate approximately 3 km of each tunnel, with the remainder constructed using the cut-and-cover method.
The project involves significant logistical challenges, including transporting the massive, 87-meter-long German-manufactured TBMs to Mumbai. The excavation will occur beneath the city's basaltic Deccan Trap formation, known for its hardness. The Versova-Dahisar Link Road aims to create a signal-free corridor.
Despite the anticipated benefits of reduced travel times, the project faces environmental scrutiny. Concerns have been raised regarding the substantial impact on mangrove forests, with thousands expected to be affected or felled. Authorities state compensatory afforestation will be undertaken in other locations to offset the loss of green cover.
