HCC completes first tunnel for Mumbai Metro-III project

01 Sep 2019 Editorial Team

As communicated by the company, the construction team built the 3.82-km tunnel in tough geological and urban conditions. These included the proximity of the project to the sea; the fact that the land to be tunnelled through was heterogeneous reclaimed area; congested working areas; and the need to leave buildings (most over 100years old) undisturbed while tunnelling directly below them.

MMRCL had awarded the contract to HCC in July 2016, for the design and construction of twin tunnels by tunnel-boring machine (TBM) method and the construction of four underground metro stations, including one at CST.

Two TBMs were procured from China with 117-m-long, single-shield, dual-mode hard rock with a 6.68 m diameter and weighing around 848 mt. They are equipped to operate in both open and closed mode, in the predominantly fresh and slightlytomoderatelyweathered basalt and breccia anticipated in the Mumbai Metro project. After months of geotechnical investigations, planning and a lengthy procurement phase, the HCC team launched Vaitarna I (the first TBM) from the project site at CST on December 04, 2017. This TBM requires around 32 people to operate, which includes operators, engineers and labourers.

As the alignment of the tunnel passes through one of Mumbai’s most thickly populated residential areas, a thorough geological survey was conducted along the entire stretch of the project. Prior to tunnelling, a structural survey was carried out across a 30-m influence zone on either side of the alignment to assess the impact of tunnelling on the buildings.

The construction of station buildings is currently underway. While all the station buildings are unique in design, the CST station is a completely cut-and-cover station; the remaining three stations will be made by NATM method. Vaitarna II was launched in February 2018 and is expected to complete its tunnelling by December 2019.

Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) emerged as the sole contractor among all packages to finish the entire length of a tunnel after it completed the southbound tunnel between CST and Mumbai Central stations. As communicated by the company, the construction team built the 3.82-km tunnel in tough geological and urban conditions. These included the proximity of the project to the sea; the fact that the land to be tunnelled through was heterogeneous reclaimed area; congested working areas; and the need to leave buildings (most over 100years old) undisturbed while tunnelling directly below them. MMRCL had awarded the contract to HCC in July 2016, for the design and construction of twin tunnels by tunnel-boring machine (TBM) method and the construction of four underground metro stations, including one at CST. Two TBMs were procured from China with 117-m-long, single-shield, dual-mode hard rock with a 6.68 m diameter and weighing around 848 mt. They are equipped to operate in both open and closed mode, in the predominantly fresh and slightlytomoderatelyweathered basalt and breccia anticipated in the Mumbai Metro project. After months of geotechnical investigations, planning and a lengthy procurement phase, the HCC team launched Vaitarna I (the first TBM) from the project site at CST on December 04, 2017. This TBM requires around 32 people to operate, which includes operators, engineers and labourers. As the alignment of the tunnel passes through one of Mumbai’s most thickly populated residential areas, a thorough geological survey was conducted along the entire stretch of the project. Prior to tunnelling, a structural survey was carried out across a 30-m influence zone on either side of the alignment to assess the impact of tunnelling on the buildings. The construction of station buildings is currently underway. While all the station buildings are unique in design, the CST station is a completely cut-and-cover station; the remaining three stations will be made by NATM method. Vaitarna II was launched in February 2018 and is expected to complete its tunnelling by December 2019.

Infrastructure Urban

11 Mar 2026

India Expands Semiconductor Training To 500 Institutions

Under the Chips to Startups programme of the India Semiconductor Mission, the Union minister responsible for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and IT reported notable progress in talent development. He indicated that over the past four years substantial steps have been taken towards a 10-year target of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design. World-class EDA tools have been deployed in 315 academic institutions across the country to provide students with practical exposure to chip design. These EDA tools are supported by leading global firms and are accessible t..

Infrastructure Urban

11 Mar 2026

Delhi Institutions Support India Semiconductor Mission

The Government of India has prioritised talent development through training, upskilling and workforce development under the Chips to Startups initiative of the India Semiconductor Mission, with officials noting progress in four years towards a 10-year target of training 85,000 engineers in semiconductor design. Electronic design automation tools provided by Synopsys, Cadence, Siemens, Renesas, Ansys and AMD have been deployed in 315 academic institutions, enabling students to gain practical chip design experience. Chips have been fabricated and tested at the Semiconductor Laboratory, Mohali, a..

Infrastructure Urban

11 Mar 2026

NHA Announces Winners Of NHCX Hackathon At IIT Hyderabad

The National Health Authority (NHA) has concluded the NHCX Hackathon under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) to stimulate innovation around the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX). The winning teams presented their solutions at the NHCX Innovation Meet held at IIT Hyderabad during a two-day event in March 2026 that also served as the hackathon grand finale. The hackathon itself ran from 22 to 28 February 2026 and aimed to accelerate paperless, transparent claims processing across India. The event was organised with a range of ecosystem partners, including the Insurance Regulatory a..