Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is set to launch the first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) operation for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, marking a major engineering milestone in the construction of India’s first bullet train corridor. The tunnel boring work will commence from the Vikhroli shaft in Mumbai and will involve the excavation of the project’s longest underground tunnel using advanced TBM technology.
The tunnel package comprises a 21-km underground section, including a 7-km undersea tunnel beneath Thane Creek, making it India’s first undersea railway tunnel. Two giant German-engineered Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), specially deployed for the project, will excavate the underground stretch connecting Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Shilphata. The use of TBMs is expected to ensure faster construction while minimising surface disruption in densely populated urban areas.
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, being implemented by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) with technical and financial assistance from Japan, has recorded steady progress across civil works, viaduct construction, bridges, stations, and tunnels. The launch of TBM operations follows the successful completion of multiple mountain tunnel breakthroughs in Maharashtra, reflecting the rapid pace of construction on the high-speed rail corridor.
Spanning 508 km with 12 stations, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor will connect key cities across Maharashtra and Gujarat, significantly reducing travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad while introducing Japanese Shinkansen technology to India. The project is expected to improve regional connectivity, support economic growth, and establish a modern high-speed rail ecosystem in the country.
The commencement of tunnel boring marks one of the most technically challenging phases of the project and represents a significant step towards the government’s target of commencing phased operations on the corridor in 2027. Once completed, the underground section will play a crucial role in connecting Mumbai with the rest of the high-speed rail network while showcasing advanced tunnelling capabilities in India’s infrastructure sector.
