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Construction challenges during tunnelling underneath the Mithi river, Mumbai, India

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Author Affiliations

  • 1DGM, Geosystems Infrastructures, Bandra East, Mumbai, India
  • 2GM (Design), KEC International Projects Limited, Mumbai, India

Res. J. Engineering Sci., Volume 12, Issue (2), Pages 22-30, May,26 (2023)

Abstract

Tunnelling underneath the water body is the most challenging part of the underground project and requires specific study, design, monitoring, and highly skilled professionals that can complete the task with the help of modern and innovative engineering. This paper tried to cover construction challenges faced during the tunnelling underneath the Mithi river at Mumbai Underground Metro Line -3 twin tube, 5.50 m finished diameter (Colaba- Bandra- Seepz) including 152 m NATM tunnel and 4 nos. of cross-passages, which made project more precious and challenging. Apart from tunnelling underneath the river, tunnel alignment was curved also and TBM mining becomes more challenging. In this case study, will discuss the challenges from the geological investigation to the construction of TBM tunnelling, NATM tunnel and cross passage (CP) underneath the Mithi river. As the overburden thickness from the river bed to the tunnel crown portion was about 5 m with weathered basaltic breccia rock; challenges were complete the geological investigation, water seepage, tunnel segment design, tunnel alignment deflection, the opening of cross passage and chances of deflection in the tunnel during CP excavation through NATM methods. This paper would be beneficial for taking precautionary measures during the tunnelling underneath the water body for the future tunnel projects.

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