Mumbai GMLR tunnel work gains pace as Tulshi tunnel-boring machine completes 64 metres of excavation

The two tunnels are being constructed using TBMs and are designed to have three lanes each. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Tunnel excavation work under the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project has gathered pace, with the ‘Tulshi' tunnel-boring machine (TBM) completing 64 metres of excavation so far, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Thursday.

The GMLR project's Phase-3 (B) involves the construction of twin underground tunnels between Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Film City) in Goregaon East and Amar Nagar in Mulund West, passing underneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The two tunnels are being constructed using TBMs and are designed to have three lanes each.

The first TBM, named ‘Tulshi', was commissioned on August 17 and has completed 64 metres of tunnel excavation.

During this work, 27 ring segments have also been installed as part of the tunnel construction, along with two temporary ring segments.

Meanwhile, the assembly of the second TBM, ‘Vihar', has reached 92 per cent completion. The BMC said the machine is expected to undergo a Site Acceptance Test (SAT) from October 13, following the installation of the complete system.

Subject to the successful completion of all technical tests, excavation of the second tunnel is scheduled to begin on October 22.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Abhijit Bangar reviews GMLR tunnel work, safety, and project progress

Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar visited the project site on Thursday to review the ongoing underground tunnel work and the overall progress of the twin-tunnel project.

During the inspection, Bangar reviewed the tunnel excavation process, ongoing construction activities, technical aspects, safety measures, machinery performance and construction quality. He also assessed the planning and measures required to ensure that the project progresses as per schedule.

The twin tunnels are being constructed from Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari towards Khindipada in Mulund. The parallel tunnels are each 4.70 km long. Their diameter is 14.20 metres, while the section passing through the Sanjay Gandhi National Park has a diameter of 13 metres.

The ‘Tulshi' TBM is a single-shield Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) hard-rock machine. Its cutter has a diameter of 14.49 metres, while the machine has a total length of 83 metres, including a 22-metre-long shield section and a 61-metre-long, three-storey backup gantry.

The TBM is equipped with a fully automated muck-handling system comprising a 340-metre conveyor system, cross conveyor and stacker conveyor. According to the BMC, the system is intended to facilitate efficient muck transportation, improve productivity and ensure safer operations in challenging geological conditions.

Bangar also directed officials to prepare a dashboard for monitoring the tunnel project. The dashboard will include details such as the percentage of work completed, current project status, tunnel excavation progress, daily excavation, expected completion, safety measures and the project schedule.

GMLR tunnel project: BMC pushes timely work, safety, and manpower planning

He said such a dashboard would allow the progress of the project to be assessed at a glance and provide officials and engineers with transparent information about its current status.

"Tunnel excavation work under the project has commenced and approximately 64 metres of excavation has been completed on one side. It is extremely important to maintain the pace of work consistently as per the stipulated project timeline," Bangar said.

He directed officials to immediately implement measures to prevent delays in excavation and regularly review the progress of work, available machinery, technical requirements and manpower needs. Additional manpower and technical staff should be deployed wherever necessary, he said.

Bangar also stressed that worker and engineer safety must remain a priority alongside the pace of excavation, given the highly technical and challenging nature of the work. Officials were directed to strictly follow prescribed safety standards at every stage, ensure the availability of required safety equipment and implement preventive measures after assessing potential risks.

The ambitious project is targeted for completion by February 2029. Bangar directed all agencies involved to work in coordination and ensure that the project is completed within the stipulated timeframe.

Chief Engineer (Bridges) Rajesh Mule, Deputy Chief Engineer (Bridges) Naresh Meghrajani, along with other officials and engineers, were present during the inspection.