The massive cutterhead, measuring 13.6 metres in diameter and weighing around 350 tonnes, marks the completion of the main shield assembly for the second TBM that will be used to excavate part of the project's underground tunnel section

Earlier this week, the cutterhead for the first TBM was lowered at Vikhroli. Both machines will now undergo final assembly, testing and commissioning before beginning excavation work in the first week of July 2026

The giant cutterhead has been specially designed to excavate a single tunnel large enough to accommodate both the up and down tracks of the high-speed rail corridor

The two TBMs are among the largest machines being used in India's high-speed rail infrastructure programme

Each machine measures 95.32 metres in length and consists of several specialised components, including the cutter wheel, main bearing, jaw crusher, erector, main shield, tail shield and four support gantries