Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Achieves First Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough

India’s first high-speed rail corridor, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, has achieved a crucial milestone with the successful breakthrough of its first mountain tunnel in Palghar district, Maharashtra.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the development during a press briefing, stating that Mountain Tunnel 5 (MT5) has been completed. This marks a significant step forward in one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.

 

Key Details of the Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough

Mountain Tunnel 5 (MT5) is located in Palghar, Maharashtra

Tunnel length: 1.48 km (1.39 km excluding portals)

MT5 is the first and longest of the 7 planned mountain tunnels in Maharashtra

The project also includes 1 undersea tunnel near Mumbai

This breakthrough demonstrates India’s growing expertise in advanced tunnelling and high-speed rail construction.

 

Bullet Train Corridor Length & Tunnel Information

Total corridor length: 508 km

Total tunnel length: 27.4 km

Underground tunnels: ~21 km

Surface tunnels: ~6.4 km

Mountain Tunnels Breakdown

Maharashtra: 7 tunnels (6.05 km combined)

Gujarat: 1 tunnel (350 metres)

The first underground tunnel, a 5 km stretch between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane, was completed in September 2025.

Stations and Maintenance Depots

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor will have 12 stations, including:

Mumbai Terminal: Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC)

Gujarat Terminal: Sabarmati

Depots

3 depots are under construction

Typically only 2 depots are required for a corridor of this length

An additional depot was approved due to earlier project delays in Maharashtra

Advanced Engineering & Bridge Construction

Last month, another milestone was achieved with the launch of a 130-metre steel bridge near Kanthariya village, Bharuch district (Gujarat).

Bridge Highlights

Total length: 230 metres (130 m + 100 m spans)

Height: 18 metres

Width: 14.9 metres

Weight: 2,780 metric tonnes

Designed lifespan: 100 years

The bridge was fabricated in Bhuj and assembled using:

Over 1.22 lakh high-strength Tor Shear bolts

C5 corrosion protection system

Metallic bearings

The entire launch was completed within 12 hours, ensuring minimal disruption to road and rail traffic.

 

Bullet Train Route & Connectivity

The corridor covers:

352 km in Gujarat & Dadra and Nagar Haveli

156 km in Maharashtra

Major Cities Connected

Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane and Mumbai

Approximately 85% of the route (465 km) is being built on viaducts to reduce land acquisition and improve safety.

326 km of viaducts completed

17 out of 25 river bridges finished

Expected Travel Time & Economic Impact

Once operational, the bullet train will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to around 2 hours.

Key Benefits

Faster inter-city travel

Boost to business and tourism

Employment generation

Long-term regional economic growth

FAQ – Mumbai Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

Q1. Where is the first mountain tunnel located?

It is located in Palghar district, Maharashtra.

 

Q2. How many tunnels are planned in the project?

A total of 8 tunnels, including 7 mountain tunnels and 1 undersea tunnel.

Q3. What is the total length of the bullet train corridor?

The corridor spans 508 kilometres.

Q4. When will the bullet train become operational?

The exact date is yet to be announced, but construction is progressing rapidly.

Q5. What will be the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad?

Approximately 2 hours once fully operational.

Conclusion

The successful breakthrough of the first mountain tunnel in Palghar marks a historic achievement for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. With advanced engineering, rapid progress on tunnels, bridges, viaducts and stations, India’s dream of high-speed rail connectivity is steadily becoming a reality. This project is expected to redefine travel, boost economic growth and elevate India’s global infrastructure standards.