Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Gains Momentum: Railway Minister Initiates Underground Tunnel Construction

Mumbai/Ahmedabad: 24th February 2024: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw expressed optimism about the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, envisioning it as a catalyst for economic growth. He highlighted the transformative impact it would have on towns and cities along the route, positioning it as a valuable learning experience for future endeavours.

Vaishnaw, in a significant move, initiated the construction of a shaft at Vikhroli for tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to delve into the construction of the 21-km underground tunnel—a technological marvel in India’s inaugural bullet train venture. Emphasizing the challenge of constructing the tunnel without disrupting the nearby tall buildings, he shared that trains would reach speeds of up to 320 km/h through this engineering feat.

The Vikhroli site is one of four locations designated for shafts along the 21-km underground stretch of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project. Shaft-2 is set to launch two TBMs—one toward the east end of the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) station and the other toward Sawli in Navi Mumbai.

Vaishnaw also conducted a review of the BKC station’s construction progress, marking it as the starting point for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train. Work on the undersea tunnel has simultaneously commenced at BKC, Ghansoli, Sawli, and Vikhroli, aiming to expedite the construction of the seven-kilometre underwater segment.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the previous Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, Vaishnaw criticized the delays in approvals and obstacles in land acquisition under the leadership of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He contrasted this with the swift approvals granted within 10-15 days of the new government led by Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis.

Detailing the construction methodology for the BKC station, Vaishnaw explained the bottom-up approach, with excavation work starting from ground level and concrete work from the foundation. The extensive excavation, reaching a depth of 32 meters, is equivalent to about 10 floors of a typical residential building, with an estimated volume of 18 lakh cubic meters.

The project plans to implement Japan’s Shinkansen Technology at an estimated cost of Rs 1.10 lakh crore, with services expected to commence by 2026.