Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Achieves Major Tunnel Breakthrough

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has announced the first breakthrough in the 21 km long tunnel being constructed between Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Shilphata for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. The milestone marks the successful completion of a 2.7 km continuous tunnel section.

Of the total 21 km, 16 km is being constructed using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), while 5 km between Shilphata and Ghansoli is being excavated using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). The tunnel also features a 7 km undersea stretch beneath Thane Creek.

To accelerate tunnelling in the NATM section, an Additionally Driven Intermediate Tunnel (ADIT) was constructed, enabling excavation to proceed from both Ghansoli and Shilphata sides. Currently, around 1.62 km has been excavated from the Shilphata end, bringing total progress in the NATM segment to approximately 4.3 km.

Advanced safety systems such as ground settlement markers, piezometers, inclinometers, strain gauges, and biometric access controls have been deployed to ensure safe and controlled tunnelling without impacting surrounding structures.