en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officially launched the Tunnelling Boring Machine (TBM) works for the Thane-Borivali road tunnel project on Tuesday. The first single-shield hard rock TBM, named "Nayak," has been launched from Thane, marking it as the largest machine of its kind for urban tunnel construction in India. A second TBM, "Arjuna," is scheduled to commence operations soon.

The road tunnel project spans a total length of 11.84 kilometers and, upon completion, will become India's longest urban road tunnel. The route connects Ghodbunder in Thane to the Western Express Highway in Borivali, passing beneath the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. By employing advanced single-shield TBM technology, the project aims to minimize surface-level disturbance to the natural reserve area.

According to the construction design, each tube of the twin-tube road tunnel will feature three traffic lanes, including a dedicated emergency lane. Cross-passages will be provided every 300 meters, and the tunnel will be equipped with a high-capacity ventilation system, firefighting infrastructure, smoke detectors, and LED signage.

The commencement of the "Nayak" TBM's operation officially marks the transition of the road tunnel project into the excavation phase. Once operational, travel time between Thane and Borivali is expected to be reduced from the current 60-90 minutes to approximately 15 minutes. As a crucial enhancement to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region's transport network, the project will directly alleviate pressure on the Western Express Highway and improve regional logistics and passenger transport efficiency.

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