Herrenknecht AG has announced it will supply two Mixshields to the prestigious Versova-Dahisar Link Road in Mumbai. At 15.62m diameter each, they will be the largest TBMs working in India. Concurrently, the recent visit of the Indian Ambassador in Germany to the Herrenknecht Headquarters underscores the strategic importance of the Indian market, which is emerging as one of the fastest-growing regions in global tunnelling.
The Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR) is the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MRCP), spanning 22.93km. Packages C & D are the two parallel tunnelling packages of the VDLR project, each extending 3.1km in length. The project will connect the suburbs of Versova and Dahisar along Mumbai’s western coastline, easing traffic congestion on major routes such as the Western Express Highway. The tunnel sections will play a critical role, particularly in connecting sensitive areas such as the city centre and densely built urban regions.
The project owner is the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and client is Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL).
The two powerful Mixshields are optimally designed for the challenging geological conditions of the region consisting of slightly weathered basalt with a uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of up to 150MPa. The overburden of the tunnels ranges from approximately 13m – 23m. To ensure safe operations under these conditions, the TBMs have been designed for a maximum operating pressure of 5 bar. The machines will be manufactured at Herrenknecht’s Chennai plant in India, using core components from Schwanau, thereby strengthening local expertise, whilst reducing transport distances.
“The tunnel sections of the Versova-Dahisar Link Road are a prime example of sustainable urban mobility. We are proud to support this significant project with our cutting-edge technology,” explains Dr.-Ing. E.h. Martin Herrenknecht, Chairman of the Board of Management at Herrenknecht AG.
Upon completion, the Versova-Dahisar extension of the coastal road is expected to reduce the travel time by 70% – a significant improvement for millions of commuters in Mumbai.
This project highlights Herrenknecht’s continuing commitment to India, one of the world’s most dynamic markets for tunnel construction. Alongside projects such as the Metro in Delhi and Chennai or the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway tunnel project in Uttarakhand, the VDLR project marks another milestone that reinforces the company’s position in the country. With its office in Delhi, a production facility in Chennai, and close partnerships with local stakeholders, the company currently employs around 150 people in the region.
“Only a few other countries are investing as ambitiously in the expansion of infrastructure as India. We are excited to be part of this dynamic growth story,” emphasizes Dr. Martin Herrenknecht.
On December 19th, 2024, the Indian Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Ajit Gupte, visited Herrenknecht AG in Schwanau. The visit included a tour of the production facilities and a discussion with the company’s management board.
“Herrenknecht’s contribution to India’s infrastructure development impressively showcases the potential of collaboration between our two nations,” Ambassador Gupte highlighted.
Herrenknecht
Pioneering Underground Technologies - Herrenknecht AG is the technology and market leader in mechanized tunnelling. As the only company worldwide, Herrenknecht delivers cutting-edge tunnel boring machines for all ground conditions and in all diameters - ranging from 0.10 to 19 meters.
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