Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train: India’s first bullet train project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, has been making steady progress. With
major construction milestones achieved recently, the project is inching closer to its first phase of operations. Here’s a detailed explainer on where things stand.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train: What milestone was achieved?
A breakthrough was recorded for a 4.88-km tunnel between Shilphata and Ghansoli. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was present at the site in Ghansoli, where the tunnel’s final barrier was removed through a controlled blast. The excavation forms part of a 21-km underground stretch that will eventually connect Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) with Shilphata, including a seven-km section under Thane Creek.What did the minister say?
Calling the tunnel breakthrough a 'landmark achievement,' Vaishnaw confirmed that the first phase of the bullet train project will be operational in December 2027. This initial section will cover Surat to Bilimora. He also stressed that the bullet train will be “transport for the middle class,” promising fares that remain affordable, PTI reported.What’s happening with tunnels in Maharashtra?
Apart from the Ghansoli tunnel, another significant development was the completion of excavation for a five-km tunnel in Thane. Vaishnaw triggered a dynamite blast to mark the breakthrough. These tunnels are being built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a widely used technique for underground construction.How is the Mumbai station progressing?
The Mumbai station at Bandra-Kurla Complex is unique as it will be the only underground station on the corridor. Officials say 84 per cent of the excavation is already complete. The station is being built 32.5 metres below ground—roughly equivalent to a ten-storey building news agency PTI reported.It will have three levels: concourse, platform, and service floors. Six platforms are planned, each about 415 metres long. For passenger convenience, the station will have wide movement spaces, modern amenities, and natural skylight features. Connectivity will also be ensured through two access points—one leading to Metro Line 2B and another towards the MTNL building.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train: What about the structural work?
The base slab of the Mumbai station is being built with M-60 grade temperature-controlled concrete, while the columns are being cast with M-80 grade. Nearly two lakh cubic metres of concrete is required for the slab, with over 51,000 cubic metres already poured. On-site batching plants with ice and chiller units are being used to control concrete temperature.Supporting structures such as secant piles, capping beams, and flood walls have been completed. Testing labs at the site are conducting quality checks like water permeability and chloride penetration tests to ensure long-term durability.
