The assembly of the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor has started at Savali near Ghansoli. This marks a crucial phase in the development of the underground section of India’s first bullet train project. The machine is being put together about 39 meters below ground level at the Savali shaft before being deployed to drive tunnels towards Vikhroli.
As part of the ongoing installation process, a 190-metric-tonne gantry has been positioned. This structure, measuring 18 meters in length, 10 meters in width, and 9 meters in height, will play a key role in the tunnel excavation operations. Each TBM in the corridor will have four gantries connected to the main shield assembly and cutterhead, aiding in various operations like excavation and waterproofing.
Engineers have faced challenges due to limited working space at the Savali shaft. They have employed carefully sequenced lifting operations and controlled installation methods for assembling at depth. The initial tunnelling drive from Savali is set to kick off in July, marking a significant milestone in the project’s progress.
In a separate engineering achievement, a 1,360-metric-tonne precast portal beam was successfully launched over an operational railway line near the Maninagar area in Ahmedabad. This 34-meter-long structure, with a cross-section of 5.5 meters by 4.5 meters, was installed over the Ahmedabad-Vadodara section as part of the elevated viaduct works for the bullet train corridor. The operation, completed in around 3.5 hours during full traffic and power block, involved sophisticated lifting equipment and coordination with Indian Railways.
