The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is set to deploy ‘Arjuna’, the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), for the ambitious Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel Project, taking another step towards building India’s longest urban road tunnel. The machine is expected to be commissioned within the next few days and could also be launched on August 15, according to officials.
The development comes a few months after the launch of the first TBM, ‘Nayak’, in April this year. While Nayak has already begun excavation from the Thane end, Arjuna will soon join the tunnelling work, helping speed up the construction of the mega infrastructure project.
Arjuna to accelerate tunnelling work
Both Nayak and Arjuna will excavate the twin tunnels from the Thane side. However, tunnelling from the Borivali end will begin only after the ongoing land acquisition process is completed. Officials said a total of four Tunnel Boring Machines will eventually be deployed, with two operating from Thane and two from Borivali.
The delay at the Borivali end is due to pending rehabilitation work. Around 300 project-affected families were residing at the site, and while most have already been shifted to SRA and MHADA housing, around 15 to 20 families are yet to be rehabilitated.
Arjuna has been specially designed to cut through the hard basalt rock beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The machine is equipped with advanced technology, including a laser-based positioning system, an automatic segment detection system and a segment erector that ensures precision and safety during excavation.
Travel time to reduce to 15 minutes
The 11.84-km Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel Project includes 10.25 km of twin tunnels and 1.59 km of connecting roads, linking Manpada in Thane with Ekta Nagar in Borivali. Each tunnel will have three lanes and will run at a depth of up to 23 metres below the ground.
Once completed, the project is expected to transform travel between Thane and Borivali by reducing the journey time from more than an hour to around 15 minutes. The tunnel is also expected to ease congestion on existing roads, improve connectivity between the eastern and western suburbs, and help reduce vehicle emissions by providing a faster alternative route.
Along with the launch of Arjuna, MMRDA is also planning to inaugurate key infrastructure projects, including SCLR Phase 2, the Chembur Metro station on Metro Line 2B, and the Mumbai Monorail, highlighting the authority’s continued focus on improving Mumbai’s transport network.
With excavation progressing from the Thane side and preparations underway for work from Borivali, the Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel Project continues to move forward as one of the city’s most significant infrastructure developments.
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