Calling it a “landmark achievement”, Mr. Vaishnaw, who initiated the breakthrough of the tunnel, stated that the primary section of the high-speed hall on the Surat-Bilimora part will begin in December 2027.
Talking to reporters in Ghansoli close to Mumbai, the Minister stated that the bullet prepare would be the “transport for the middle class”, and the fares will likely be “reasonable”.
He stated that the Google Maps app exhibits the journey time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad as 9 hours, however individuals will be capable of cowl the gap in two hours and 7 minutes on the bullet prepare.
The first section of the bullet prepare venture will likely be first launched on the Surat-Bilimora part in 2027, protecting Thane in 2028 and the Bandra Kurla Complex in 2029, Mr. Vaishnaw stated.
People stand on the entrance of a tunnel, accomplished as a part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet prepare venture in Navi Mumbai, on September 20, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters
“The companies are designed such {that a} prepare will depart each half hour throughout the morning and night peak hours. Once all the community stabilises, there will likely be a prepare each 10 minutes throughout peak hours,” he stated.
There will likely be no want for ticket reservations for journey between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, and passengers can arrive on the station and board, the minister stated.
Standing at one of many openings of the tunnel, Mr. Vaishnaw pushed the button and triggered a managed dynamite blast to interrupt by means of its closing layer, finishing 5 km of excavation.
The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) stated that the tunnel, excavated utilizing the New Austrian Tunnel Method (NATM), is a part of the 21 km underground stretch between the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Shilphata, together with a 7-km phase beneath Thane Creek.
With the newest breakthrough, the bullet prepare tunnel now connects the Savali shaft to the tunnel portal at Shilphata, linking it to the viaduct portion of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) venture, the NHSRCL acknowledged in a launch.
The NHSRCL stated that excavation of the tunnel started in May 2024 in three phases, and the primary breakthrough of a 2.7 km steady part was achieved on July 9. An extra intermediate tunnel (ADIT) was constructed to permit simultaneous excavation from each Ghansoli and Shilphata sides.
Workers stroll inside a tunnel accomplished as a part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet prepare venture in Navi Mumbai, on September 20, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters
The NATM tunnel has an inside width of 12.6 metres and was constructed utilizing drilling, blasting, survey works, and help methods below difficult geological circumstances, it acknowledged.
The company stated that the subsequent section will contain waterproofing, lining, ending, and tools set up, whereas the remaining 16 km of tunnelling will likely be executed utilizing tunnel boring machines (TBMs).
The accomplished tunnel will likely be a single-tube, 13.1-metre diameter construction accommodating twin tracks for each up and down traces.
The company additionally highlighted complete security measures, together with settlement markers, piezometers, inclinometers, pressure gauges and restricted website entry, together with preparations to pump contemporary air for staff contained in the tunnel.
Media stand inside a tunnel accomplished as a part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet prepare venture in Navi Mumbai, on September 20, 2025. | Photo Credit: Reuters
The 508 km-long Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail hall is India’s first bullet prepare venture.
According to the NHSRCL, work has been accomplished on 321 km of viaduct, 398 km of pier, together with 17 river bridges, 9 metal bridges, and the set up of over 4 lakh noise limitations throughout 206 km.
The monitor mattress development has been completed on 206 km, and greater than 2,000 overhead tools masts have been put in protecting 48 km of the mainline viaduct, it acknowledged.
