Skip to main content

Herrenknecht’s benefits from Indian orders

German company Herrenknecht says that in recent months it has received 18 orders from India for tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for projects to expand metro networks in the Indian cities of Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, and for water supply schemes. Earlier this year an Indian record of 525m of drilled and secured tunnel was achieved in one month on the Veligonda water project (state of Andhra Pradesh) with a Herrenknecht Double Shield TBM (diameter 7.9m). The 18km Veligonda Tunnel is part of a sche
November 30, 2012 Read time: 2 mins

German company  Herrenknecht says that in recent months it has received 18 orders from India for tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for projects to expand metro networks in the Indian cities of Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata, and for water supply schemes.

Earlier this year an Indian record of 525m of drilled and secured tunnel was achieved in one month on the Veligonda water project (state of Andhra Pradesh) with a 2592 Herrenknecht Double Shield TBM (diameter 7.9m). The 18km Veligonda Tunnel is part of a scheme to pipe water from the Srisailam Dam on the River Krishna over a distance of about 100km. The tunnel, being built by the Nuziveedu Swathi Coastal Consortium, is being constructed using a Herrenknecht Double Shield TBM (Ø 7.9m).

“India is one of the world's largest economies, and there is a demand for metro systems, through which the high traffic volumes in the heavily built-up cities can be rerouted underground,” says Herrenknecht.

The EPB (earth pressure balance) shields (Ø 6.35m–6.6m) are being used to create a total of 71km of tunnels for mass transit systems.

In March 2012 the 1042 Italian-Thai Development Public Co began tunnelling with the first two of four Herrenknecht machines for the metro in Kolkata, while in Delhi two TBMs started work for Pratibha Industries. In July one of the TBMs completed its first intermediate breakthrough.

In Chennai, eight TBMs will excavate more than 38km of tunnels for new metro lines, while in Mumbai the existing water supply network is being renewed and expanded, and a total of three Herrenknecht TBMs (Ø 2.8m– 6.2m) drilled or are drilling over 16km of drinking water tunnels.

To mark the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and India, a Year of Germany in India is currently taking place, and during the Urban Mela series of events, Herrenknecht presented its portfolio covering all aspects of mechanised tunnelling in Chennai.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Building the Pfänder tunnes
    April 11, 2012
    The second tube of the Pfänder Tunnel, Bregenz, Austria, where the new main tunnel has been excavated using a tunnel boring machine (TBM), is being constructed by Alpine BeMo Tunnelling. Tubbings have been installed as the inner tunnel lining, and as part of concreting for the inner shell, the FQ 1 crosscut, suitable for vehicles, is being constructed using a tunnel formwork carriage designed and supplied by PERI.
  • India's first construction event a huge success
    April 5, 2012
    The first bC India event has exceeded all expectations and it is set to become a regular event. Patrick Smith reports A major new construction equipment show has been launched in a nation with a huge appetite for such machinery and a growth rate nudging 9% each year. With billions being spent on infrastructure (roads and highways, power stations, railways, ports and airports), India was a prime candidate for a trade fair to display the latest and local international construction machinery, building materia
  • India's first construction event a huge success
    February 13, 2012
    The first bC India event has exceeded all expectations and it is set to become a regular event. Patrick Smith reports A major new construction equipment show has been launched in a nation with a huge appetite for such machinery and a growth rate nudging 9% each year. With billions being spent on infrastructure (roads and highways, power stations, railways, ports and airports), India was a prime candidate for a trade fair to display the latest and local international construction machinery, building materia
  • CTB forges ahead with Naylor Denlok pipes under A556 upgrade
    September 30, 2016
    Recent trenchless installation of surface water drainage pipes was used underneath a UK road improvement scheme to allow highway upgrades to proceed unimpeded The A556 Knutsford to Bowdon Improvement Scheme, being undertaken by Costain for its client Highways England, is valued between €197 million and nearly €265 million. The 7.5km section will transform the A556 trunk road between the towns of Knutsford and Bowdon into a modern dual carriageway. Costain will also be making the existing A556 into a single