First phase of Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train to be operational in Dec 2027, Union Minister Vaishnaw conducts tunnel breakthrough
India’s first bullet train project just hit a major milestone with a key tunnel breakthrough in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw celebrated the achievement on Saturday, highlighting progress on the ambitious 508-km line that’s set to revolutionize travel between the two cities.
Vaishnaw visited the site near Ghansoli in Maharashtra and pushed a button to trigger a controlled blast, breaking through the final layer of a 4.881-km tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata. This underwater tunnel runs beneath Thane Creek, connecting Mumbai and Thane under the sea, and marks the completion of five kilometers of excavation.
“This is a landmark achievement for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project,” Vaishnaw said. He emphasized that the high-speed rail will serve as affordable transport for the middle class, with reasonable fares to make it accessible.
Looking ahead, the minister shared exciting timelines: The first phase on the Surat-Bilimora section kicks off in December 2027, reaching Thane by 2028 and Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex by 2029. Once operational, bullet trains will slash the Mumbai-Ahmedabad journey from nine hours on the road—as Google Maps shows—to just two hours and seven minutes.
Vaishnaw added that trains will run every 30 minutes during morning and evening rush hours, ramping up to every 10 minutes once the network stabilizes. Best of all, no advance reservations needed—passengers can simply arrive at the station and hop on board.
The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), which oversees the project, explained that workers used the New Austrian Tunnel Method (NATM) for this section. It’s part of a 21-km underground stretch from Bandra-Kurla Complex to Shilphata, including a challenging 7-km portion under Thane Creek. Excavation started in May 2024 in three phases, with the first 2.7-km breakthrough on July 9. Engineers built an extra intermediate tunnel to dig from both ends at once, tackling tough geological conditions with drilling, blasting, and support systems.
The tunnel boasts a 12.6-meter internal width and will become a single-tube structure with a 13.1-meter diameter, housing twin tracks for trains heading both ways. Next up, teams will handle waterproofing, lining, finishing, and installing equipment. The remaining 16 km of tunneling will use advanced tunnel boring machines (TBMs).
Vaishnaw also updated on broader progress: Builders have finished 321 km of viaduct—the elevated bridge sections—along with 398 km of piers. They’ve completed 17 river bridges and nine steel bridges, plus installed over 400,000 noise barriers across 206 km to keep things quiet for nearby communities. Track bed construction wraps up 206 km, and more than 2,000 overhead equipment masts now cover 48 km of the mainline viaduct.
This Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project promises faster, greener travel and positions India on the global map for bullet train technology. With steady advances like this tunnel breakthrough, commuters can look forward to a smoother ride between these bustling cities.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
