First phase of Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project to be functional by Aug 2026: Railways Minister

The minister expressed his disappointment over delays caused by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by former Maharashtra chief minister Udhhav Thackeray. He credited the current Shinde-Fadnavis government for expediting the project by clearing land acquisition hurdles.

The first controlled blast was conducted by the minister at the Vikhroli site to create a shaft to launch tunnel boring machines (TBMs). From here, two TBMs will be lowered in two directions — one towards BKC and another towards Ghansoli.

The TBMs will bore a 21 km-long single tube tunnel to accommodate twin tracks for up and down trains. With a cutter head diameter of 13.1 metres, the TBMs will be used to create 16 kms of the tunnel, while the remaining 5 kms will be constructed using the new austrian tunnelling method (NATM).

The tunnel will be constructed at depths ranging between 25 and 65 metres below ground level. The deepest point will be 114 meters below Parsik Hill near Shilphata. Three shafts at BKC, Vikhroli and Sawli — at depths of approximately 36, 56, and 39 meters respectively — will facilitate the corridor’s construction. An inclined shaft of 42 metres at Ghansoli and a tunnel portal at Shilphata will enable the construction of approximately 5 kms of the tunnel by using the NATM method.

Vaishnaw emphasised that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project will prove to be a corridor of economic prosperity, transforming towns and cities along the route and becoming a learning experience for future initiatives. He highlighted that the work was being carried out with utmost care to avoid disturbing existing high rise buildings.

The bullet trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor will operate at a speed of 320km/hr, covering a distance of 508 km and 12 stations. Of the 12 stations in the alignment, four are located in Maharashtra – BKC, Thane, Virar and Boisar– which make up a distance of 156 km.