Metro 3 crosses a milestone in Mumbai.

Mumbai Metro 3 achieved a milestone recently with the first of the 14-tunnel boring machines (TBM) achieving a breakthrough, completing a section of tunnelling. The TBM, named Wainganga 1, had been commissioned on January 8 from the launch shaft in Marol Naka.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “For any success we say, ‘it’s a breakthrough’. For the first time I could see the definition of the the word ‘breakthrough’.” Mr. Fadnavis said the underground metro will be a boon for the city and once connected with the elevated metros, will create a ring within the city and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, enabling citizens to travel end-to-end in the region under one hour.

Wainganga 1 on Monday completed tunnelling 1.26 km from the launch shaft to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) Terminal 2 station, which is under construction. The TBM bored 4.6 m daily and has shaped the tunnel with 901 RCC cement rings. The TBM is part of Package 7, which connects SEEPZ station to CSMIA Terminal 2 station. The 4.16-km-long package is being executed by the consortium of Larsen & Toubro and Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Company.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation has completed 9 km tunnelling across the entire Colaba to SEEPZ corridor. At present, 14 of 17 TBMs to be used for the project are working, the first of which began tunnelling in November last year at Naya Nagar in Mahim. Three more TBMs will be commissioned next month.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said work on the Integrated Ticketing System is on in full swing, and Niti Aayog members will be visiting the city to see the platform that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority is creating for it. “Probably the same platform will serve as the basis for integrating transport systems across the country,” Mr. Fadnavis said. The Niti Aayog is working on a One Nation One Card policy.

THE HINDU