Tunneling work begins on Mumbai Metro’s Line 7A
Officials said the initial drive for TBM T60 will start with a lag of 30 days to the first TBM. The underground station is expected to be complete by December 2024.
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For the underground portion, a twin tunnel will be constructed using two Tunnel Boring Machines. (Image source: MMRDA) Tunnelling work has began on the 3.4km-long Mumbai Metro Line 7A — an extension of red line or Metro 7 that connects Dahisar east to Gundavali — which once completed, will connect Andheri East to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).
Of the total 3.42-km alignment, there is a twin tunnel stretch that will run underground for a span of 2.49 km.
According to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the Metro Line 7A alignment is partially elevated and runs parallel to Western Express Highway and Sahar elevated road. The Airport Colony Metro station is elevated along the Airport Authority of India colony.
The alignment goes underground just before the vehicular underpass of Sahar elevated road and will join the CSMIA Metro station underground that runs parallel to terminal T2 and underground Metro Line 3.
The sub-structure of the elevated viaduct and station has been completed while the tunnel digging has commenced now. For the underground portion, a twin tunnel will be constructed using two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM). Both the TBMs have been installed at the site and the initial drive for TBM T62 has started, as per the MMRDA.
Officials said the initial drive for TBM T60 will start with a lag of 30 days to the first TBM. The underground station is expected to be complete by December 2024.
A Metro official said the tunnelling depth varies from 20m to 6m from ground level to accommodate the transition from the underground Metroline to the elevated stretch and connect the underground CSMIA Metro station with the Airport Colony station that is at an elevation in Vile Parle.
Once operational, the Metro Line 7A will provide direct connectivity to the international airport from Mira Bhayandar (Metro Line 9) area and Western suburban (Metro Line 2A and Metro Line 7). It will also provide connectivity between Metro Line 3 and the international airport, cutting down the travel time of 30-60 minutes to the airport. It would also provide connectivity to Navi Mumbai International Airport through the proposed Metro Line 8.
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