Mumbai Metro’s TBM Surya-2 Records Breakthrough at CSMT

Moments ago, Tunnel Boring Machine Surya-2 operated by Larsen & Toubro – Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company JV arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on Mumbai Metro’s 33.5 km Line-3 (Aqua Line).

This was Surya-2’s 4th (and final) breakthrough, and L&T-STEC JV’s 7th (and penultimate) breakthough for the 4.25 km Package UGC-01’s tunnels between Cuffe Parade and CSMT. Overall, this was Line-3’s 37th of 42 planned TBM breakthroughs.

This Robbins Crossover XRE TBM had recorded a breakthrough in October 2020 at the southern-end of Hutatma Chowk Station’s 233 meter NATM-mined tunnel and then tunneled right through it to get towards its northern-end. It was then re-commissioned for its 4th assignment on January 2, 2021 to build the 556 meter long down-line tunnel towards CSMT.

Package UGC-01: Cuffe Parade – CST – view Mumbai Metro Aqua Line route map & info
Completion of core cutting works to receive Surya-2 on April 21
Boom!

With this development, here’s the status of package UGC-01 between Cuffe Parade and CST / CSMT stations where 1 final breakthrough is pending, also at CST. The team is aiming to wrap that up in May-end.

This table is best viewed on a desktop device –

TBMLineFromToDistanceStatus
1UpCuffe ParadeVidhan Bhavan1128mCompleted
1UpVidhan BhavanChurchgate498mCompleted
1UpChurchgateHutatma Chowk649mCompleted
1UpHutatma ChowkCST551mIn Progress
2DownCuffe ParadeVidhan Bhavan1254mCompleted
2DownVidhan BhavanChurchgate481mCompleted
2DownChurchgateHutatma Chowk653mCompleted
2DownHutatma ChowkCST556mCompleted (this post!)

Line-3’s depot issues have still not been resolved with the Bombay High Court yet to decide whether the saltpan land identified in Kanjurmarg – for housing a mega depot catering to different lines – belongs to the state or Centre.

That said, Line-3 now has just 3 TBMs actively tunneling from an all time high of 17. A total of 37 breakthroughs have been recorded so far with the following 5 pending:

PackageSectionStatus & Distance
UGC-01Hutatma Chowk – CST (up-line)248/408 rings completed (551m, In Progress)
UGC-03Science Museum – Mahalaxmi (up-line)419/752 rings completed (1118m, In Progress)
UGC-03Mahalaxmi – Mumbai Central (up-line)837m, Not Started
UGC-03Science Museum – Mahalaxmi (down-line)505/752 rings completed (1136m, In Progress)
UGC-03Mahalaxmi – Mumbai Central (down-line)830m, Not Started

For more updates, check out my Home Page!

– TMRG

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

13 Responses to "Mumbai Metro’s TBM Surya-2 Records Breakthrough at CSMT"

  1. Prithvi says:

    Congrats team UGC01 and MAPLE

    Reply
  2. Prajwal Krishna says:

    Any updates on bullet train’s C-8 package?

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Still in technical bid evaluation. Will share results whenever financial bids are opened.

      Reply
      • Roy says:

        This hafta vasuli gauti gavar aghadi govt won’t allow to go it smoothly..they doing every method to delay bullet train project

        Reply
    • Anti bhakat says:

      The bullet train shouldn’t be allowed at current cost .. it is not a must have.. but just a fancy toy to lure people of gujrat…. and maharashtra has to pay half the price for an unnecessary item… so no thank you keep it your gujraat only

      Reply
  3. Wasim Khan says:

    Congrat’s team, hope to complete these phase EOD of April.

    Reply
  4. Karan Kapadia says:

    I hope that both lands Aarey and Kanjurmarg are used for some kind of Premium Infrastructure Projects such as Bullet Trains or Metro Rails Depot. Thats the best way to optimally utilise the lands.
    Also, METRO RAIL GUY, I had a question as to whether there is a METRO RAIL line connecting New Panvel East upto Hiranandani fortune city upto Navi Mumbai Airport and Sealink???? I had seen some article somewhere.

    Reply
  5. Chak De India 🇮🇳 says:

    Please tell about Mumbai Metro line 10,11,12 & 13 work status :-
    Wheather GC appointed, Contractor appointed & work started on ground ? If not yet started then what is the reason ?

    Reply
  6. Ronnie says:

    Observation: last 4 machines to the finish line are all sourced from Robbins

    Reply
    • TMRG says:

      Well spotted. Perhaps just a coincidence. I’d like to attribute it to a mix of contractor-led delays + difficult tunneling conditions.

      Reply

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