Mumbai: BMC has completed the assembly of the first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that will excavate one of the twin tunnels for the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road (GMLR) project, marking a key milestone in one of the city’s largest road infrastructure projects.The TBM, installed at the launch shaft in the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari area, successfully underwent a Site Acceptance Test (SAT), during which its mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, control and safety systems were tested. Actual tunnelling will commence after all remaining technical checks are completed.Additional municipal commissioner (projects) Abhijit Bangar visited the project site on Wednesday to review the progress of the work and issued directions to officials.The GMLR project includes the construction of two parallel underground tunnels between Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari in Goregaon and Khindipada in Mulund. Each tunnel will be 4.7 km long. While the tunnel diameter will be 14.2 metres along most of the stretch, it will narrow to 13 metres while passing beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.The TBM is a Single Shield Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) hard rock machine with a cutter head measuring 14.49 metres in diameter and an overall length of 83 metres. It comprises a 22-metre shield section and a 61-metre-long three-level backup gantry.The machine has been equipped with a fully automated muck handling system comprising a 340-metre conveyor system, along with cross and stacker conveyors, to facilitate the efficient removal of excavated material while improving productivity and safety during tunnelling.Bangar said excavation would begin once all prescribed technical tests are completed and reiterated that the civic body is working towards completing the GMLR project by February 2029.
