By rosebell
The Open Tunnel Boring Machine is slated to start work on the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) Fresh Water Tunnel Project in Maharashtra, India, as Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) manufacturer Terratec has announced.
Including construction of a 6.7km long treated water tunnel in Raigad district, Maharashtra, this project’s value is INR 5.19bn ($59m).
The responsibility of operating Terratec’s 3.2m diameter Open TBM is up to Mumbai-based contractor Patel Engineering, which secured the letter of acceptance (LOA) for the contract in June 2023.
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, will be the contents of this project.
Considering that this machine’s modular structure allows for easy launch and retrieval through shafts or potential disassembly within the tunnel, it is designed to perform across diverse geologies along the project route.
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.
With the aim of ensuring safe tunneling 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.
Supporting the TBM operation, Terratec’s Field Service team will ensure after-sales support for optimal performance and successful project completion.
Additionally, 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 customised TBM designs, fast onsite support, ready stock of TBM spares, and TBM specialists across tunneling operations have the responsibility of driving projects.
Following that 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, the TBM manufacturer announced a milestone on India’s Agra Metro project in December last year.
