Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced the successful breakthrough of the first mountain tunnel in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (Bullet Train) project at Palghar district, Maharashtra, marking a major engineering milestone. The breakthrough was achieved in one of the mountain tunnels located between Virar and Boisar, executed by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). The tunnel was excavated using advanced construction techniques while adhering to strict safety and quality standards.
The Union Minister said the Bullet Train Project is generating significant employment and will provide additional opportunities during operation. He highlighted that once completed, the project will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just 1 hour and 58 minutes, connecting and integrating the economies of major commercial centers.
The project is expected to foster economic activity along the corridor, facilitate knowledge transfer, and support the development of new industrial and IT hubs. The Union Minister noted that it will bring long-term economic gains and cater to the aspirations of the middle class by offering comfortable and affordable travel.
The Union Minister highlighted that the project, once completed, will lead to an estimated reduction of nearly 95 percent in carbon dioxide emissions compared to road transport.The Minister, who virtually witnessed the breakthrough, said the achievement reflects the steady progress of India’s first bullet train corridor despite challenging geological conditions. He added that multiple tunnels and viaducts are currently under construction along the route.
The 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time to around two hours, boost regional connectivity, and strengthen infrastructure development in Maharashtra and Gujarat.