NE BUSINESS BUREAU
MUMBAI, JAN 19
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted a site inspection at the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, emphasizing the innovative efforts on a 21 km undersea and underground tunnel. This segment is part of the bullet train route between Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex and Shilphata in Maharashtra.
Hon’ble Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the ADIT Tunnel of the Bullet Train Project to inspect and review its progress. pic.twitter.com/fccS1X9bRF
— NHSRCL (@nhsrcl) January 19, 2025
#BullettrainIndia https://t.co/wxZ80w0srQ
— NHSRCL (@nhsrcl) January 18, 2025
Hon’ble MR Shri @AshwiniVaishnaw inspected the under-construction tunnel between Mumbai #BulletTrain underground station at Bandra-Kurla Complex and Shilphata in Maharashtra. pic.twitter.com/Wkob4DnlBl
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) January 19, 2025
Out of the total tunneling works, 16 km is being executed using tunnel boring machines, while the remaining 5 km employs the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM). A significant feature is the 7 km undersea tunnel at Thane Creek. The minister highlighted the remarkable progress made under stringent safety protocols.
- This segment is part of the bullet train route between Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex and Shilphata in Maharashtra
- Japanese experts have been closely inspecting and approving the ongoing work to ensure adherence to high standards: Ashwini
- The minister credits Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing an affordable and efficient transportation mode for the middle-class
The National High-Speed Rail Corridor Ltd. (NHSRCL) reported that considerable advancements have been achieved, with construction occurring at multiple sites. A record-breaking 394-meter ADIT was completed in six months, boosting tunneling activities. Comprehensive safety measures, including advanced geotechnical instrumentation, ensure the project proceeds without risk to surrounding structures.
Speaking at the project site in Ghansoli, Vaishnaw highlighted the advanced technology and design enabling two trains to pass through the tunnel at speeds of up to 250 km/h. For single trains, the speed can reach a maximum of 320 km/h. He emphasized that the tunnel incorporates measures for environmental protection along with state-of-the-art ventilation and lighting systems.
“The construction on 340 kilometres of the project has seen significant progress,” the minister noted. However, when asked about the project’s expected completion date, he refrained from providing a specific timeline.
Vaishnaw also detailed the advancements in the project, including bridge construction over rivers and the development of station infrastructure. He added that Japanese experts have been closely inspecting and approving the ongoing work to ensure adherence to high standards.
The minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of providing an affordable and efficient transportation mode for the middle-class, stating that the high-speed rail project would integrate the economies of cities along the route, including Mumbai and Ahmedabad. “This project is not just about transportation but about economic integration. It will spur urban development, significantly reduce travel time, and enhance daily productivity,” he said.
Milestones achieved so far
Gujarat
253 km of launching and 290 km of Girder casting completed. 343 km of pier work completed
11 Full Span Launching Gantries and 17 Segmental Launching Gantry are operational.
Foundation for all 8 stations of Gujarat completed (Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati). Construction of superstructure is at advance stage. Finishing works are in progress at four stations. Launching over 13 river bridges (out of 20 river bridges) completed
70 km of viaduct has been handed over to track contractor after completing noise barrier and cable duct. 41 route km of reinforced concrete (RC) bed over the viaduct has been cast and more than 27,000 of precast J-slab have been cast in factories. Approx. 35,800 MT rails (JIS 60 kg and 50 kg) arrived at site from Japan
Electrification work started, with the first two steel masts erected on the viaduct at a height of 14 m from the ground level in between Surat- Bilimora Bullet Train Stations
Maharashtra
Mumbai (Bandra-Kurla) Station: 11 lakh cubic meters (out of 18 lakh cubic meters) excavation completed. Casting of Base Slab started.
21 km tunnel incl. 7 km undersea: ADIT tunnel (394 m) completed in May 2024. Excavation completed for Shaft 2, Shaft 3 and cut & cover portion at Shilphata. Tunneling from three faces of NATM started. Casting of Tunnel Segment started (2m wide rings)
135 km long viaduct package in Maharashtra (C3): Foundation: 25 km completed. Pier: 15 km completed. Work on 5 mountain tunnels (out of total 7) started
