3rd STEC TBM Completes Factory Tests for Mumbai Metro’s Line-3

China-based tunnel boring machine (TBM) manufacturer Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company (STEC) on Friday completed factory acceptance tests (FAT) for a new TBM at their Shanghai facility which will be used to build a section of Mumbai Metro’s 33.5 km Line-3 tunnels between Cuffe Parade and Aarey Colony.

Named D215, this Ø6.68m dual-mode TBM is part of a 3 TBM order (2 other refurbished TBMs passed FAT in August) and will be deployed by Larsen & Toubro and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company (L&T – STEC JV) to build twin tunnels on the line’s 4.157 km package UGC-07, between Marol Naka – MIDC – SEEPZ  – Aarey Colony Ramp, which was awarded by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. in July 2016.

D215 will build a total of 3 tunnels, all on the down-line –

The circular Pali Ground Shaft is located just north of the Marol Naka Station –

Package UGC-07 between Marol Naka – Aarey Colony Ramp – view Mumbai Metro map and info

TBM D215 priot to FAT – Photo Copyright: John Celentano

TBM D215 with MMRCL, MAPLE and L&T-STEC’s officials – Photo Copyright: MMRCL

All 5 contractors of the line plan to deploy a total of 17 TBMs to construct it, and with this development 13 TBMs have passed factory acceptance tests out of which 5 TBMs have arrived in the city –

• Package UGC-01 – None
• Package UGC-02 – 2 Terratec TBMs (1st, 2nd) in China (new)
• Package UGC-03 – 1 Robbins TBM in Singapore (refurbished)
• Package UGC-04 – 3 Herrenknecht TBMs (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in China (new)
• Package UGC-05/06 – 2 Terratec TBMs in Delhi (refurbished) + 2 Terratec TBMs (1st, 2nd) in China (new)
• Package UGC-07 – 2 STEC TBMs in Singapore (refurbished) + 1 STEC TBM in China (new)

Robbins still has to complete FAT for 2 new cross-over TBMs for use on package UGC-01 and 1 NFM Slurry TBM for use on package UGC-03, while Terratec has FAT pending for 1 new dual-mode TBM for use on package UGC-05/06.

For more updates, check out the Mumbai section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG