India

Maha: Metro Line 7A underground tunnel breakthrough successfully completed

Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Apr, 2025 12:03 PM

Mumbai, April 17 (IANS) The breakthrough of the 1.65-kilometre underground tunnel on Mumbai Metro Line 7A, from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (T2) to Andheri East, was successfully completed on Thursday in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The tunnel is being constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).

The Chief Minister reviewed detailed information about the project from officials and initiated the breakthrough by pressing the button. He later inspected the work on-site. This particular tunnel is located on the downline of Metro Line 7A, between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport station and the Airport Colony station.

This metro link is a crucial segment of the Mumbai metropolitan area's expanding metro network. With this line, Mira-Bhayander and further up to Vasai-Virar will be connected to the international airport. Eventually, the Thane and Navi Mumbai International Airports will also be linked via metro. Currently, 59 per cent of the total work on Metro Line 7A has been completed.

According to the MMRDA, Metro Line 7A stretches over 3.4 kilometres, 0.94 km is elevated, and 2.5 km is underground. The line will have two stations: one elevated at Airport Colony and the other underground at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Out of the total length, 0.57 km is elevated, while the twin tunnels are 2.035 km long.

The first tunnel drive for the downline began on September 1, 2023. The 1.65-km tunnel includes 1,180 pre-cast rings used for lining, each ring specially designed and divided into six parts, with a tunnel diameter of 6.35 meters.

In September 2023, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) was lowered 30 meters underground.

Despite multiple engineering challenges, passing under Metro Line 3, the Sahar Elevated Road, major sewer and water pipelines, the breakthrough was completed successfully. This new line will allow passengers to travel comfortably from Colaba to Vasai-Virar and Mira-Bhayander. It will also provide seamless integration with other metro lines in the city, including Metro Line 3 (Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ), which connects to the underground airport station.

The blend of elevated and underground alignments ensures minimal land usage in densely populated airport zones, enabling a smoother metro construction process.

Prev Next

MORE India ARTICLES

Air India Kathmandu-Delhi flight faces technical glitches

The Air India-216 was all set to depart from Kathmandu airport at 4:10 am. The plane was stuck at the airport due to the wheel locked. After facing technical glitches, the plane was pulled off the runway by the tractors and parked in the parking lot.

Air India Kathmandu-Delhi flight faces technical glitches

Jairam, Chidambaram condole death of Sulabh founder Bindeshwar Pathak

Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and P Chidambaram on Tuesday condoled the death of Sulabh founder Bindeshwar Pathak while recalling his tireless crusade for improved sanitation. Congress general secretary Ramesh in a tweet said, "For many years, Bindeshwar Pathak, who passed away earlier today, was a tireless crusader for improved sanitation."

Jairam, Chidambaram condole death of Sulabh founder Bindeshwar Pathak

600 Pradhans of border villages invited as ‘special guests’ to witness I-Day celebration in Delhi

PM Modi, during his address from Red Fort: "Earlier, border villages were considered as the last villages fo the country but that perception has changed. These villages are now considered not the last villages but the first villages at the border."

600 Pradhans of border villages invited as ‘special guests’ to witness I-Day celebration in Delhi

5 killed, four injured in Mathura wall collapse

At least five persons have reportedly been killed after a portion of a house adjacent to the Bankey Bihari temple in Mathura collapsed on Tuesday evening. Four others who sustained injuries in the wall collapse have been admitted to a hospital, District Magistrate Pulkit Khare said.

5 killed, four injured in Mathura wall collapse

Congress calls PM Modi's I-Day address 'election speech filled with distortions'

"Instead of bringing the country together, to celebrate our journey so far, acknowledge the pain and anguish of those suffering, and accept the challenges ahead, he made it all about himself and his image," Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh, said in statement.

Congress calls PM Modi's I-Day address 'election speech filled with distortions'

India, China hold 19th round of corp commander level talks, agree to resolve issues expeditiously

During the meeting, which was held on the Indian side on August 13-14, both the sides had a positive, constructive and in-depth discussion on the resolution of hte remaining issues along the LAC in the Western sector, a government statement said on Tuesday.