India is stepping up efforts to build its domestic Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) manufacturing capabilities as work advances on the 125-km Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line in Uttarakhand. The push comes amid China’s recent introduction of fresh global restrictions on TBMs, critical equipment used in metro rail, highway and other major infrastructure projects. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India, which previously depended on imported TBMs, is now manufacturing machines with diameters of 8 metres and 15 metres. The country is also preparing to produce machines exceeding 16 metres in diameter, strengthening domestic capabilities in a technology used for railway, highway and power infrastructure projects.
In separate social media posts on Thursday, Vaishnaw highlighted the engineering challenges involved in the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway project and the country's efforts to develop a complete domestic TBM ecosystem, from design and manufacturing to maintenance.
