The cutterhead for the Second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was lowered at Sawli (Ghansoli) near Mumbai (Maharashtra). With a diameter of 13.6 meters, weighing a massive 350 tonnes, this component marks the final step in the primary assembly of the TBM’s main shield.
This second TBM will start its journey of from Sawli (Ghansoli) near Mumbai and move towards Vikhroli.
Cutterhead for the first TBM was lowered earlier this week at Vikhroli. Both the TBMs will now undergo final assembly and commissioning trials before proceeding their initial drive in first week of July 2026.
Engineering Marvel at a Glance:
- Dimensions: With a diameter of 13.6 meters, the cutterhead is designed to excavate a single tunnel large enough to accommodate both the up and down lines of the high-speed corridor.
- The unit is equipped with 84 cutter discs, 124 scrapers, and 16 bucket lips to efficiently cut and remove muck during excavation.
Additional Information about TBMs:
- No. of TBMs received: 2 Nos.
- Weight of TBM 1: 3080 tons
- Weight of TBM 2: 3184 tons
- Cutter head diameter: 13.6 m
- TBM type: Mix Shield / Slurry based
Each TBM measures 95.32 meters in total length and comprises several critical components, including the cutter wheel, main bearing, jaw crusher, erector, main shield, tail shield, and four specialized gantries that support tunnelling operations.
These machines can operate at a maximum cutterhead speed of 4 RPM (revolutions per minute), with a maximum excavation rate of 49 mm per minute, enabling steady and controlled tunnelling progress while maintaining high safety standards.
