India’s First Undersea Rail Tunnel Begins for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project
The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has started work on India’s first seven-kilometer undersea rail tunnel, which is part of the 21-kilometer long tunnel between BKC and Shilphata in Mumbai. This is a significant milestone in the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
Project Progress
According to the latest update, NHSRCL has completed 194 km of viaduct and 322 km of pier work. Additionally, three steel bridges in Surat, Anand, and Vadodara have been completed. Work on nine river bridges has also been finished, with ongoing efforts on other important rivers like Narmada, Tapti, Mahi, and Sabarmati.
Mountain and Station Work
The first mountain tunnel near Zaroli Village in Valsad, Gujarat, is completed. Foundation work for eight bullet train stations in Gujarat, including Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati, is also done. Structural work for the Surat depot and earthwork for the Sabarmati rolling stock depot are completed, with ongoing survey and design work at Thane depot.
Track Laying and Excavation
Track laying in Gujarat is progressing well, with over 35,000 MT of rails and three sets of track construction machinery received at Surat and Vadodara. The Additionally Driven Intermediate Tunnel (ADIT) at Ghansoli has been excavated. Excavation for the Mumbai Bullet Train station has started, and ground works are in progress at Thane, Virar, and Boisar stations.
Future Plans
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the bullet train project will be ready by 2026, with initial services between Surat and Bilimora. The project, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2017, has been making steady progress since November 2021 despite initial delays due to land acquisition challenges.
About NHSRCL
National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) was incorporated on February 12, 2016, to finance, construct, maintain, and manage the High-Speed Rail Corridor in India. The project, estimated to cost Rs 108,000 crore, is a joint effort by the Central Government, the Government of Gujarat, and the Government of Maharashtra.
Undersea Rail Tunnel -: An undersea rail tunnel is a tunnel built under the sea to allow trains to travel through it. It’s like a secret passage for trains underwater.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train -: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train is a high-speed train project that will connect the cities of Mumbai and Ahmedabad, allowing people to travel much faster between these two places.
National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) -: NHSRCL is a company set up by the Indian government to build and manage high-speed rail projects in India, like the bullet train.
Viaduct -: A viaduct is a long bridge-like structure that carries a road or railway over a valley or other low ground.
Pier Work -: Pier work involves building the vertical supports (piers) that hold up bridges or viaducts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of India, the leader of the country.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -: Shinzo Abe was the Prime Minister of Japan, a country that is helping India with the bullet train project.
Surat and Bilimora -: Surat and Bilimora are cities in the Indian state of Gujarat. The bullet train will first connect these two cities.
