English
New Delhi: In a concerning development that threatens to derail India’s much-anticipated dream project—the Bullet Train—China has emerged as the key source of the crisis. According to the reports, three massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), crucial for this ambitious project, are currently stuck at a Chinese port resulting into delays in the country’s most talked-about rail project.
These TBMs, used for tunneling underground, were ordered from the German company Herrenknecht. However, they were manufactured at the company’s factory in Guangzhou, China. It is important to note that the first part of these machines was supposed to arrive in India by October 2024, but Chinese authorities have not yet approved their release.
This delay is now becoming a major headache for the project. The Ministry of Railways has brought the issue to the attention of the Ministry of External Affairs. According to sources, India has initiated high-level talks with China to get the machines released. Along with the TBMs, some other critical equipment required for the project is also reportedly stuck.
However, none of the machines have arrived in India so far. According to sources, there has been no change in the final project deadline as of now.
If the deployment of TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) equipment get delayed, then it could affect the construction of the 21-kilometre-long tunnel from Bandra-Kurla Complex to Shilphata. This stretch includes a 7-kilometre-long undersea tunnel beneath the Thane Creek, which is the most challenging part of the project. Interestingly, TBM machines were also brought in from China for the Mumbai Metro and Coastal Road projects — but that was before the 2020 Galwan clash.
In today’s changed diplomatic environment, these delays are raising many questions. Is the delay purely technical, or is there another reason behind it?
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