J Kumar’s Mumbai Metro Line-7A TBM Disha Passes Factory Tests

J Kumar Infraprojects on Monday completed factory acceptance tests (FAT) on tunnel boring machine T62 for Package CA48 of Mumbai Metro Red Line’s 3.17 km Line-7A (Gundavali – CSIA)

Back in 2018-2021 this Ø6.68m dual-mode Terratec TBM, then nicknamed as Tapi-2, was deployed by JKumar – CRTG JV to build 3 tunnels for Package UGC-06 of the 33.5 km Line-3 (Aqua Line).

Following its final breakthrough at the Domestic Airport Station in February 2021, it was dismantled and taken to J Kumar’s casting yard (view on Google Maps) in Chenna village on Ghodbunder Road for refurbishment.

The machine, now nicknamed as Disha, will be deployed by J Kumar to build approximately 2.915 km twin tunnels (both up and down lines) between a ramp on the Western Express Highway and CSIA Terminal 2.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had awarded J Kumar Infraprojects with Package CA48’s Rs. 1,998 crore contract in September 2019.

Their scope of work, besides the 11.38 elevated Line-9 extension, includes building Line-7A’s viaduct, ramp and underground tunnels and 2 stations at Airport Colony and CSIA Terminal 2, where it’ll meet the under construction Line-3 (Aqua Line), and in the future Line-8 (Gold Line) linking to Navi Mumbai International Airport.

The TBM is expected to be lowered into the WEH TBM Launch Shaft in Q3 2023. At this time I see Line-7A becoming operational no sooner than mid-2026 looking at the performance of Aqua Line’s TBMs around the airport that I’ve tracked, and the standard system installation and station development work required.

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– TMRG