India's bullet train plan hits Chinese wall as German tunnel-boring machines remain stuck at port
'Matter taken to the External Affairs Ministry'
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India's largest TBM, still waiting
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Going deep: Tunnel to cut through hill and creek
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Three massive tunnel boring machines meant for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor remain held up at a Chinese port, creating concern over potential delays to India's flagship bullet train project These machines, essential for the 21-km underground section of the line from Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Shilphata, were built in Guangzhou by German tunnelling specialist Herrenknecht . Two were expected to reach India by October 2024, while the third should have arrived earlier this year.So far, no clearance has been given by Chinese port authorities. There has been no official explanation for the delay.The Railway Ministry has escalated the issue. 'The railway ministry has taken the matter to the external affairs ministry,' a senior official told reporters.Diplomatic channels are now in play, as the delay involves not just the TBMs but also other parts crucial for ongoing civil works. Sources say a continued hold-up could seriously affect progress, particularly on the undersea stretch beneath Thane creek.The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd ( NHSRCL ), which is executing the ₹1.08 lakh crore project, planned to use TBM-1 and TBM-2 for tunnelling between Sawli (Ghansoli) and BKC, and TBM-3 between Vikhroli and Sawli.This part of the route includes India's first undersea rail tunnel—a 7-km stretch running below Thane creek. It is one of the most technically demanding sections of the corridor.So far, NHSRCL officials have declined to comment. But sources confirmed the overall project timeline remains unchanged, at least for now.Since the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020 between Indian and Chinese troops, the Indian government has increased scrutiny of Chinese-origin imports and investments.That year, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority cancelled bids for a monorail upgrade involving two Chinese companies. Similarly, the Maharashtra government froze three large MoUs signed under the Magnetic Maharashtra 2.0 initiative, worth more than ₹5,000 crore.TBMs for Mumbai Metro and the city's coastal road project had come from China before the Galwan clash. But post-2020, projects like the Thane–Borivli tunnel opted for TBMs made in Herrenknecht's Indian facility in Alinjivakkam, Tamil Nadu.The machines now stuck in China are far from standard.One of them is the largest tunnel boring machine ever built for use in India. It has a cutter head diameter of 13.56 metres. By comparison, metro TBMs are usually under 6.7 metres. Even the 12.19-metre TBM used for Mumbai's coastal road project is smaller.The Herrenknecht machine is equipped with a mixshield configuration that allows it to handle different geological conditions—soil, rock, and everything in between. It's a precision instrument made for a complex job. Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, which won the ₹6,397 crore contract for the underground Package C-2, is preparing the ground while the machines remain in limbo. The contract, awarded in June 2023, covers the 20.377-km stretch from BKC to Shilphata and has a planned duration of 5.17 years.Three vertical shafts—36 metres deep at BKC, 56 metres at Vikhroli, and 39 metres at Sawli—are being constructed to launch and retrieve the TBMs. A 42-metre inclined shaft at Ghansoli and a tunnel portal at Shilphata are also in progress for NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method) works.The tunnel will run 25 to 65 metres below ground, and in some places, like beneath Parsik Hill, it will dip as far as 114 metres. It must cross wetlands, thick urban clusters, and a large body of water. Every metre matters.Despite the challenges, Afcons and NHSRCL have not changed their public stance. Afcons officials also declined to comment.Officials familiar with the matter said all stakeholders—NHSRCL, Herrenknecht, Afcons, and the ministries—are actively coordinating to find a way forward.'The equipment includes not just the TBMs but also parts critical for other infrastructure works,' one official added.For now, work continues. But as the wait at the Chinese port stretches on, pressure builds to get the machines moving—or risk the timeline slipping underground.
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