India’s ‘largest’ TBM working on Mumbai project

Visit of the Indian ambassador to Herrenknecht AG in Schwanau, Germany. Image: Herrenknecht

The Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR) is the second phase of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MRCP), spanning a length of 22.93km.

Packages C and D are the two parallel Underground tunneling packages of VDLR project, each extending 3.1km in length.

The planned project will connect the suburbs of Versova and Dahisar along Mumbai’s western coastline, easing traffic congestion on major routes such as the Western Express Highway. Underground tunnel sections will play a critical role, particularly in connecting sensitive areas such as the city center and densely built urban regions.

The two Mixshields are said to be optimally designed for the challenging geological conditions of the region. The overburden of the tunnels ranges between approximately 13 and 23m.

To ensure safe operations under these conditions, the TBMs are designed for a maximum operating pressure of five bar. The machines will be manufactured at Herrenknecht’s Chennai plant in India, using core components from Schwanau.

“The tunnel sections of the Versova-Dahisar Link Road are a prime example of sustainable urban mobility. We are proud to support this significant project with our cutting-edge technology,” said Dr Ing. E.h. Martin Herrenknecht, Chairman of the Board of Management at Herrenknecht AG.

Upon completion, the Versova-Dahisar extension of the coastal road is expected to reduce the travel time by 70%.

Herrenknecht says that India is “one of the world’s most dynamic markets for tunnel construction.” In December 2024, the Indian Ambassador to Germany, Ajit Gupte, visited Herrenknecht AG in Schwanau, Germany. The visit included a tour of the production facilities and a discussion with the company’s management board.