Terratec Completes Factory Testing 3rd New TBM for Mumbai Metro

Australia-based tunnel boring machine (TBM) manufacturer Terratec on September 21 completed factory acceptance tests (FAT) for the third 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 T61, this Ø6.68m dual-mode TBM will be deployed by the J Kumar Infraprojects – China Railway Tunnel Group JV along with 2 other new dual mode rock TBMs (T60, T62) 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.

TBM T61

MMRCL, AECOM & Terratec’s officials

All 5 contractors of the line plan to deploy a total of 17 TBMs to construct it, and with this development 10 TBMs have passed factory acceptance tests –

• Package UGC-02 – 1 Terratec TBM in China (new)
• Package UGC-03 – 1 Robbins TBM in Singapore (refurbished)
• Package UGC-04 – 2 Herrenknecht TBMs (1st, 2nd) in China (new)
• Package UGC-05/06 – 2 Terratec TBMs in Delhi (refurbished) + 2 Terratec TBMs (1st) 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