tunnelling-journal (1)
tunnelling-journal (1)
  • Home
  • Print
    • Subscribe
    • Tunnelling Journal
    • Breakthrough
    • ITA Activity Report
    • A&NZ Journal
    • WTC Preview
    • Media Kit
  • Digital
    • Newsletter
    • E-Shots
    • TJ Digital edition
    • Products Page
    • Media Kit
  • Conferences
    • BTS Conference and Exhibition
    • Cutting Edge 2022
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • Events Diary
  • Jobs
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Podcast

Home > TBM progress at Mumbai

TBM progress at Mumbai

Tris Thomas

Written by Tris Thomas on 11/07/2012 in News

Tagged:

A Robbins 6.25m diameter Main Beam TBM began boring India’s 8.3km Mumbai Water Tunnel this June, and had bored over 320m as of July 4, 2012, reports the TBM manufacturer. Unity-IVRCL JV is the contractor for the basalt rock tunnel, which will alleviate Mumbai’s current leakage problems from its aging lines and provide inhabitants with a consistent flow of clean drinking water.

Due to the urban location of the tunnel, the TBM was launched from a 109m deep shaft, and its launching sequence included an initial start-up excavation of 50m with vital back-up decks connected to the TBM using cables. The first bore began March 30, 2012 and upon completion, the decks were lowered and a continuous conveyor system was installed for muck haulage and storage.

Onsite First Time Assembly (OFTA) was used to assemble the main bearing, lube system, back-up decks and horizontal, vertical and stacker conveyors.  OFTA saved the contractor both time and money by assembling the parts at the jobsite and eliminating pre-assembly at the manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China. The OFTA process took place at the shaft bottom in a 100m long starter chamber and a 50m tail tunnel. TBM components were lowered into the shaft using mobile and gantry cranes.

Following the initial excavation, V.D. Sharma, Director of Operations at Unity Infrastructure said: “Robbins has made an outstanding effort during the excavation, without many difficulties, which speaks to their knowledge and team spirit.” Although the lack of conveyors during the initial bore was challenging, current advance rates are averaging 3.5m per hour.

Difficult ground conditions are expected during excavation, including hard basalt rock, fractured ground and possible water inflows. In preparation, the TBM has been equipped with 19” cutters and a probe drill. Rock support has been applied during the initial stretch of tunnel.

Once completed, the Mumbai Water Supply Tunnel will run between the Kapurbawdi and Bhandup areas. The tunnel will provide the city’s approximately 20.5M residents with a reliable water supply, even during the seasonal monsoons that regularly contaminate Mumbai’s water resources.

Comments:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Digital Edition

More Like This

21/01/2022

hyperTunnel chosen for innovator catalyst programme

hyperTunnel chosen for innovator catalyst programme

New underground construction specialist hyperTunnel has been selected to join a global acceleration and support programme run by Leonard, the…

09/02/2022

Ontario issues RFP for the Stations, Rail and Systems contract

Ontario issues RFP for the Stations, Rail and Systems contract

Canada’s Ontario government is advancing a major works contract for the three-stop Scarborough Subway Extension, one of Ontario’s four priority…

12/04/2022

Ferrovial awarded Grand Paris Express Line 18 contract

Ferrovial awarded Grand Paris Express Line 18 contract

Ferrovial, through its Construction division, in consortium with French companies Spie batignolles génie  civil and Spie batignolles Valérian, has been…

  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Magazine Archive

Newsletter

The latest from the Tunneling Journal direct to your inbox.

Social



Enquiries

TGS Media Ltd
The Old Library
Webster House
Dudley Road
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 1LE
United Kingdom

© Tunnelling Journal. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions. Admin

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more