Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel Project's TBM 'Nayak' Set to Start Excavation in September

The Thane-Borivali twin tunnel project in Mumbai is approaching a key milestone as the first tunnel boring machine (TBM), named 'Nayak', is expected to begin excavation in September. The 13.34-metre diameter single-shield TBM, supplied by German firm Herrenknecht AG via its Chennai facility, is currently being assembled with over 800 of its 1,000 components completed. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority oversees the project, with Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd as contractor. Special safety measures are planned due to the tunnel passing beneath the ecologically sensitive Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The twin tunnels aim to reduce travel time between Thane and Borivali from over an hour to about 15 minutes, featuring two traffic lanes and emergency lanes in each tunnel.