Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) manufacturer Terratec has announced that the Open Tunnel Boring Machine is set to begin work on the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) Fresh Water Tunnel Project in Maharashtra, India.
The INR 5.19bn ($59m) project involves the construction of a 6.7km long treated water tunnel in Raigad district, Maharashtra.
Terratec’s 3.2m diameter Open TBM is operated by Mumbai-based contractor Patel Engineering, which secured the letter of acceptance (LOA) for the contract in June 2023.
The project will involve designing and constructing a tunnel connecting Sai Village to Vindhane Village, as well as surveying, designing, supplying, installing, testing, and commissioning a micro irrigation system beneath the Tumkur Branch Canal.
The TBM is designed to perform across diverse geologies along the project route. Its modular structure allows for easy launch and retrieval through shafts or potential disassembly within the tunnel.
Equipped with 15” back-loading disc cutters and Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) controlled electric motors, the CutterHead can reach rotational speeds over 10 rpm with optimal torque.
To ensure safe tunnelling along the entire alignment, the TBM is equipped with advanced ground-supporting tools, including a fixed probe drilling unit, two rock bolting drills, and a steel arches erector.
The TBM operation will be backed by Terratec’s Field Service team, ensuring after-sales support for optimal performance and successful project completion.
Terratec has already delivered success on projects like Delhi Metro Phase III, Lucknow Metro, Pune Metro, Kanpur Metro, Ahmedabad Metro, Mumbai Metro, and the Amar Mahal Water Tunnel project.
The projects are driven by customised TBM designs, fast onsite support, ready stock of TBM spares, and TBM specialists across tunnelling operations.
In December last year, the TBM manufacturer announced a milestone on India’s Agra Metro project. The 6.61m diameter Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machine (EPBM) S115 has completed its final breakthrough on the 2.2km up-line tunnel section.
