Herrenknecht AG, a Germany-based manufacturer of tunnel boring machines, is set to deliver two tunnel boring machines (TBMs), each with a diameter of 15.62 meters, for the Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR) project, part of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project North. The machines, manufactured at Herrenknecht’s facility in Chennai, will be the largest TBMs used in India to date. The TBMs will be dismantled and transported to Mumbai, where they will be used to excavate two 3.1-kilometer underground road tunnels.
The machines are manufactured at Herrenknecht’s Chennai plant in India, using core components from Schwanau.
The Chennai facility includes a cutter workshop where disc cutters, essential components of TBMs, are produced and assembled. Operations such as welding and brazing are conducted using specialized equipment operated by trained technicians. The plant also features steel construction capabilities for manufacturing TBM shields, cutter heads, and support structures. Precision welding, machining, and assembly are applied to ensure each machine meets structural and performance requirements.
TBMs produced at the Chennai site are customized based on specific project needs and local geological conditions. The facility manufactures entire machines using a modular approach, allowing components to be transported separately and assembled at the project site. This method supports logistical efficiency and enables project-specific adaptations.
The Chennai operation combines local engineering expertise and supply chains with core components sourced from Herrenknecht’s headquarters in Schwanau, Germany.
The VDLR project spans a total of 22.93 kilometers and is intended to reduce traffic congestion and improve connectivity along Mumbai’s western coastline. The underground tunneling packages are designed to navigate challenging geological conditions, including slightly weathered basalt with uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) up to 150 MPa and tunnel overburden depths ranging from 13 to 23 meters. The Mixshield TBMs will operate at a maximum pressure of 5 bar.
The project is being executed by Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) on behalf of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The TBMs will support the construction of a key transport corridor expected to reduce travel time by approximately 70% for commuters in the region.
In addition to the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, Herrenknecht TBMs are being used across India for metro and railway tunnel construction in cities including New Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. Recent deployments include two Single Shield TBMs, each 9.05 meters in diameter, for a 10.5-kilometer twin-tube railway tunnel on the Rishikesh-Karnprayag line in Uttarakhand, and TBM S-1410A for a 5.05-kilometer section of Kolkata Metro’s Purple Line.
“The tunnel sections of the Versova-Dahisar Link Road are a prime example of sustainable urban mobility. We are proud to support this significant project with our cutting-edge technology,” states Dr.-Ing. E.h. Martin Herrenknecht, Chairman of the Board of Management at Herrenknecht AG. “Only a few other countries are investing as ambitiously in the expansion of infrastructure as India. We are excited to be part of this dynamic growth story.”
On December 19, 2024, Indian Ambassador to Germany Ajit Gupte visited Herrenknecht’s headquarters in Schwanau and toured the company’s production facilities.
Herrenknecht AG manufactures tunnel boring machines for a wide range of applications, including urban metro systems, railway tunnels, and underground road networks. The company operates a production facility near Chennai and maintains an office in Delhi. It employs approximately 150 people in India and collaborates with various local stakeholders on infrastructure projects.