First Section Of Undersea Tunnel Of Bullet Train Between Ghansoli & Shilphata Sees Breakthrough

Last Updated:July 14, 2025, 23:17 IST

India's bullet train project hit a milestone, completing a 2.7-km section of a 21-km undersea tunnel between BKC and Thane, using Japanese Shinkansen technology and E10 trains.

First Section Of 2.7 Km Of Undersea Tunnel Of Bullet Train Project Sees Breakthrough. (X/@AshwiniVaishnaw)

India’s bullet train project has reached a significant milestone with the completion of the first section of a 21-kilometre undersea tunnel between Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane. 

“First breakthrough of 2.7 km section of undersea tunnel (total 21 kms) of the Bullet train project!" Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw wrote on X.

According to a statement from the railways, the 2.7-km tunnel section, part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, has been constructed between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra, Deccan Herald reported.

The 21-kilometre tunnel for India’s Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is being constructed using a combination of two methods. 5 km is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) between Shilphata and Ghansoli, while the remaining will be built using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). 

The tunnel also includes a 7-km-long undersea section beneath Thane Creek, the Ministry of Railways said in a statement.

To speed up the tunnelling process in the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) section, a 2.7-kilometre continuous tunnel section was constructed using an Additional Driven Intermediate Tunnel (ADIT), the statement added.

As per the railways, the bullet train project recently achieved a major milestone by completing 310 km of viaduct construction.

“Track laying, construction of overhead electrical wires, stations, and bridges is going on at a rapid pace. The construction work in Maharashtra has also picked up pace. In parallel, the progress on procurement of systems for operations and control is also going on well, " the statement said.

Indian Railways is constructing the country’s first bullet train project using Japanese Shinkansen technology.

The Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project, the railways said.

Japan’s current high-speed rail network is dominated by the E5 series trains, but the country is on the cusp of introducing the next-generation E10 series.

“In the spirit of strategic partnership between Japan and India, the Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project. It is noteworthy that E10 will be introduced simultaneously in India and Japan," the Railways said.

The work on 15 river bridges is finished, and work on four is in the advanced stages of construction. Out of 12 stations, five are completed and three more are now reaching completion, it said.

“The station at BKC is an engineering marvel. The station will be located 32.5 m below ground, and the foundation is designed to support the construction of a 95 m high building above ground," the Ministry said.

“The success of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is laying the foundation for future bullet train corridors in India. Future corridors are also under active consideration," it added.

Location :

Maharashtra, India, India

First Published:

News india First Section Of Undersea Tunnel Of Bullet Train Between Ghansoli & Shilphata Sees Breakthrough