Microtunnelling
Laser-guided precision pipe installation — curved drives and large-diameter sea outfalls.
What It Is
As a specialist microtunnelling contractor in India, TESPL delivers precision pipe jacking for sea outfalls, river crossings and urban utility corridors. Microtunnelling (MT) is a remotely operated, guided trenchless method for installing pipes with high positional accuracy. A Microtunnel Boring Machine (MTBM) is advanced from a launch shaft, cutting the face and removing spoil via a slurry circuit, while simultaneously jacking pipes behind it to form the permanent installation. The method achieves millimetre-level line and level control throughout the drive, making it the preferred method for gravity sewers, large-diameter outfalls, and installations where grade must be precisely maintained.
How It Works — 4 Steps
Launch Shaft & Setup
A drive shaft is constructed to the required depth. The MTBM is lowered and positioned on the jacking frame, aligned to the design profile using laser guidance.
Boring & Spoil Removal
The MTBM advances by cutting the face. Spoil is removed via a slurry circuit to the surface. The operator steers remotely using continuous laser guidance, maintaining grade and alignment throughout.
Pipe Jacking
As the MTBM advances, pipes are added behind it from the shaft. The jacking frame pushes the entire pipe string forward, forming the permanent installation in real time.
Completion & Retrieval
The MTBM reaches the reception shaft and is retrieved. The installed pipe string is complete, on-grade, and ready for commissioning.
Applications
TESPL in Microtunnelling
6 × 2000mm
Sea outfalls completed — full sea recovery managed by TESPL on 5 of 6
3.6km
MT delivered within a single contract
India's longest
1200mm MT drive — Raidak River
11+ spreads
Up to 3000mm diameter
- TESPL has executed microtunnel projects across urban corridors, river crossings, and open coastal environments.
- Programme scale delivery is demonstrated by 3.6 kilometres of microtunnelling completed within a single contract — requiring simultaneous multi-front operations, ground engineering, and consistent precision across extended drives.
- In sea outfall work, TESPL has completed six large-diameter 2000mm outfalls.
- Five were executed for Adani, with TESPL managing sea recovery operations on each — coordinating marine vessels, divers, and offshore MTBM retrieval.
- The sixth was a curved 2000mm drive for GHCL, executed in open coastal conditions where a straight alignment was not feasible, with sea recovery subcontracted to a specialist marine contractor.
- TESPL holds the record for India's longest 1200mm microtunnel drive, completed at the Raidak River.
- The company has also executed MT in challenging urban environments — restricted shafting conditions, high groundwater, and mixed face ground — across multiple simultaneous contracts.
Related project references
AMC - Khyati Circle
3638.50 Mtr / 1800 mm / Ahmedabad Muncipal Cooperation (AMC) / LR Sharma / Ahmedabad, Gujarat
View project details →Raidak River MT
480m / 1200mm internal diameter (~47.2") / GAIL India / West Bengal, India
View project details →GHCL Curved MT Sea Outfall
350 Mtr / 2000mm internal diameter / Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd. / Gujarat, India
View project details →