Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train: First phase of tunnel breakthrough achieved; E10 Shinkansen set for 2027 launch

NEW DELHI: Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday announced a key milestone in India's first bullet train project. He said that 320 km of the 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor viaduct has been completed.The minister also confirmed that the advanced E10 Shinkansen will operate on the corridor, with the first section set to become operational by 2027.The significant breakthrough was achieved on the 4.88 km tunnel between Shilphata and Ghansoli, part of the 21 km underground section including the 7 km stretch beneath Thane Creek. The 508 km corridor currently has 321 km of viaducts completed, along with 398 km of piers, 17 river bridges, nine steel bridges, and over four lakh noise barriers installed across 206 km. Track bed construction has been completed on 206 km, and more than 2,000 overhead equipment masts have been installed on 48 km of the mainline viaduct, PT reported."The first section will be the Surat-Billimora stretch of approximately 50 km," Vaishnaw said. He added that the Thane section will be connected by 2028, and the entire corridor up to Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) is expected to be operational by 2029.The NATM tunnel, with an internal width of 12.6 metres, was built under challenging geological conditions using drilling, blasting, and survey techniques, along with advanced support systems.

The remaining 16 km of tunnelling will be executed using tunnel boring machines (TBMs). Once complete, the tunnel will have a 13.1-metre diameter single tube accommodating twin tracks for both up and down lines.The NHSRCL highlighted safety measures including settlement markers, piezometers, inclinometers, strain gauges, restricted site access, and fresh air arrangements for workers inside the tunnel. The next steps include waterproofing, lining, finishing, and equipment installation.(With inputs from PTI)