What does India need to take its tunnelling to the next level?

27 Jun 2022 CW Team

One thing is clear. The past decade or so has seen a drastic change in the machinery used for tunnelling construction in India. “Whereas conventional blasting methods used to prevail, which made for very slow progress, now the most prevalent method in the Himalayan region is the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM),which helps adjust to site conditions and has significantly sped up the implementation of projects,” observes Ranvir Singh, Manager (Projects)and Contracts Management Expert (Tunnelling), PEMS Engineering Consultants. “Cost comparisons of the two prominent tunnel construction methods nowadays and geological conditions, particularly in the Himalayan region, favour the NATM overtunnel boring machines (TBMs).”

“TBMs in general haven’tbeen successful in Himalayan geology owing to heterogeneous rock strata,” agrees Col Deepak Patil, General Manager (Project), Silkyara Tunnel, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation. “For tunnelling in the Himalayan region, India mostly uses machinesthat can perform activities associated with the NATM, such asboomers/jumbos, shotcreting, various kinds of grouting, strengtheningthe ground, rather than TBMs.”

In cities where metro projects are being implemented, TBMs are being extensively used. Going forward, to take tunnelling to the next level, we must think of tunnelling methods beyond TBMs, NATM and conventional methods, based on rock mechanics and properties, advises Dr B C Mandal, Executive Director (Technical), BPC Consultant India.

Improving techniques

To ensure that proper methods and machinery are engaged, we need geological engineers to lead tunnelling projects instead of the civil engineers who are currently at the forefront of tunnelling projects, says Dr Mandal.

To read the full version, CLICK HERE.

Infrastructure Transport

10 Oct 2025

Modi Launches Rs 318.5 Billion Projects in Maharashtra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched infrastructure projects worth Rs 318.5 billion during his two-day visit to Maharashtra, including two landmark developments — the first phase of the Rs 196.5 billion Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and the second phase of the Rs 122 billion Mumbai Metro Line 3. India’s first fully digitised airport, NMIA, has been designed for multimodal connectivity and is being developed under a public-private partnership between Adani Airport Holdings, which holds a 74 per cent stake, and the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maha..

Tata Housing Sells Rs 10 Billion Homes in Bengaluru

Real estate developer Tata Housing on Wednesday announced that it has achieved home sales worth over Rs 10 billion in its newly launched residential project in Bengaluru, driven by strong demand. In a statement, the company said Tata Housing Varnam Phase I — part of the 135-acre integrated township Carnatica in North Bengaluru — has surpassed Rs 10 billion in sales since its launch in August 2025. Spread across 20 acres, Varnam Phase I has recorded sales of 377 units out of 582 apartments, along with 48 townhouses and row houses. The project has attracted substantial interest from both e..

OMRON to Train 1,000 Graduates Annually at Bengaluru Centre

Japanese industrial automation giant OMRON announced on Wednesday that it will train and skill 1,000 fresh engineering graduates annually at its newly launched Automation Centre in Bengaluru. The initiative aims to enhance India’s employable manufacturing talent and build a resilient, future-ready industrial ecosystem. Motohiro Yamanishi, President of the Industrial Automation Company at OMRON Corporation, said, “We see immense potential in the dynamism of India’s manufacturing sector. The new Automation Centre underscores India’s vital role in our global and Asia-Pacific vision. It i..