TAI Journal (A Half Yearly Technical Journal of Indian Chapter of TAI)
Year : 2016, Volume : 5, Issue : 1
First page : ( 37) Last page : ( 38)
Print ISSN : 2277-2820. Online ISSN : 2278-4713.

The Mumbai Metro: Selection of the Appropriate Tunnel Boring Machine is Critical for Project Schedule

harding Doug

Vice President, Robbins

Online published on 12 January, 2016.

Abstract

India's Mumbai Metro is a massive project in the making-three lines cross the city, with Line 3 being entirely underground. The 33.5 km long line will be the first underground metro route in Mumbai with 26 underground stations and one at-grade station. Once completed in 2020, daily ridership is estimated at 1.39 million people, making it a significant transportation improvement for the city.

Excavation of the Mumbai Metro Line 3 will, however, require careful planning and consideration. Much of Mumbai is in solid rock, but the route for the proposed Line 3 includes hard rock with sections of soft ground. Selecting the appropriate type of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in these conditions is a critical part of keeping the entire project on schedule. The right type of TBM can minimize downtime and maximize advance rates, while conversely the wrong type of machine can result in delays and cost overruns that severely impact the overall project.

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