India's Bullet Train: Undersea Tunnel Breakthrough!

India’s ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has achieved a major milestone with the successful completion of the first 2.7 km section of a 21-km undersea tunnel between Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane. This completed stretch lies between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra, according to the Ministry of Railways.

The full 21-km tunnel includes a 7-km undersea segment beneath Thane Creek and is being constructed using two advanced methods. A 5-km stretch between Shilphata and Ghansoli was completed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), accelerated by the use of an Additional Driven Intermediate Tunnel (ADIT). The remaining portion is being built with tunnel boring machines (TBMs).

Beyond tunnelling, Indian Railways has completed 310 km of viaducts along the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. Work is progressing on track installation, station construction, and system integration. The project will feature Japan’s Shinkansen E10 bullet trains, marking a significant leap in India’s rail infrastructure.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.