As Mumbai launches two giant Tunnel Boring Machines, one lies abandoned 60 metres below Powai, and no one is coming for it
Indian Express·3h ago·Neutral
What Happened
A German-made tunnel boring machine lies buried 60 metres beneath Powai in Mumbai since August 2019. The machine got stuck in loose volcanic ash while excavating a water tunnel from Powai to Ghatkopar. Retrieval efforts failed after 2020 monsoon flooding. The project cost escalated by Rs 419 crore. A new machine was deployed to complete the remaining 3-kilometre stretch. Such incidents are globally rare.
Key Entities
Brihanmumbai Municipal CorporationTunnel Boring Machine (TBM)HerrenknechtPowaiMumbaiVeravali-Powai-Ghatkopar water tunnelSCI establishmentRs 419 crore cost escalation