Terratec Completes Factory Testing 2nd New TBM for Mumbai Metro
Australia-based tunnel boring machine (TBM) manufacturer Terratec earlier this month completed factory acceptance tests (FAT) for the second of five new TBMs at their Guangzhou facility in China which will be used to build a section of Mumbai Metro’s 33.5 km Line-3 tunnels between Cuffe Parade and Aarey Colony.
Christened T60, this Ø6.68m Earth Pressure Balance TBM will be deployed by the J Kumar Infraprojects – China Railway Tunnel Group JV along with 2 other new dual mode rock TBMs and 2 refurbished TBMs to build twin tunnels on the line’s 4.94 km package UGC-05 (Dharavi Station – CSIA T1 TBM receiving shaft) and 4.45 km package UGC-06 (CSIA T1 Station – Marol Naka TBM receiving shaft) which were awarded by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. in July 2016.
Line-3’s package UGC-05 (Dharavi – T1) and UGC-06 (T1 – Marol Naka) – view Mumbai Metro map & information
As per Terratec, the dual mode TBMs are-
equipped to operate in either Open or Closed mode in the predominantly fresh and slightly to moderately weathered Basalt and Breccia that are anticipated on these contracts. The robust hard rock cutterheads are mounted with heavy duty 17” disc cutters, which are interchangeable with ripper tools, and feature large bucket openings that provide a 10% opening ratio.
Other state-of-the-art features include 2,000kW Electric Variable Frequency Drives – that allow the cutterheads to cut efficiently in harder rock zones at maximum speeds of 7rpm and deliver an exceptional torque of 8,000kNm to cope with more fractured zones of ground along the alignment – as well as active shield articulation and built-in two component backfilling grout systems.
J Kumar’s new TBM T60 – Photo Copyright: Terratec
All 5 contractors of the line plan to deploy a total of 17 TBMs to construct it and with this development, 7 TBMs have passed factory acceptance tests –
• Package UGC-02 – 1 Terratec TBM in China (new)
• Package UGC-04 – 1 Herrenknecht TBM in China (new)
• Package UGC-05/06 – 2 Terratec TBMs in Delhi (refurbished) + 1 Terratec TBM in China (new)
• Package UGC-07 – 2 STEC TBMs in Singapore (refurbished)
For more updates, check out the Mumbai section of The Metro Rail Guy!
– TMRG
When will inspection of kalkaji botanical garden section will be carried out. And when will it open.
Signaling tests have taken longer than anticipated. They’re now aiming to be ready for the CMRS in October. Opening depends on results and completion of any pending interior works.
Latest media reports suggested that, the inauguration of the stretch on the Magenta line may be delayed by a month, due to exhaustive testing being carried out for the CBCC systems (that will make the metro to go driverless) being deployed for the first time in India. Expect the opening on the first week of Nov 17.
CBTC signalling is in place in Kochi, Hyderabad & Lucknow as well. The issue lies in their inability to sync it up properly with the platform screen doors.
Exactly.. today an article in hindustan times also said this. The PSD sync is taking time, CBTC is in other metros as well but they do not have PSD.
So it will be opened in November or December.
So many dependencies right now – some in DMRC’s control (interior finishing progress) and some not (signalling tests, ISA certification, CMRS inspection, availability of ministers). Not even the MD can provide a proper estimate at this time.