The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has reached several critical construction milestones in Maharashtra, marking a significant step forward for one of India’s most ambitious transportation initiatives.
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation has reported substantial progress in the project, with geotechnical investigations nearing completion, the initiation of mountain tunnel construction, and approximately 265 open foundations—equating to about 11 kilometres—finalised for the pier work. Additionally, foundation work is actively progressing at the Boisar and Virar stations, and construction at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) bullet train station is underway. The 135-kilometre segment of the corridor in Maharashtra, extending from Shilphata to Zaroli village near the Gujarat-Maharashtra border, poses a complex set of challenges. This segment will pass through 95 villages and towns within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, encompassing Thane and Palghar districts. Of this 135-kilometre stretch, 124 kilometres will be elevated, featuring viaducts and bridges, including 11 steel bridges.
The section will also include seven mountain tunnels and three stations—Thane, Virar, and Boisar—along with a rolling stock depot located at Thane. The alignment of the bullet train will intersect multiple significant infrastructures, including the Central and Western Railway lines, the Dedicated Freight Corridor, Mumbai’s suburban railway network, and the elevated Mumbai Metro Line 5. Additionally, the project will span major highways such as National Highway-48 and Mumbai-Agra National Highway-3. It will feature four major river crossings, including a notable 460-metre steel bridge over the Ulhas River—the project’s largest steel structure—and a 2.32-kilometre-long bridge over the Vaitarna River.
Special attention is being given to the ecological impacts of the project, particularly as the alignment traverses sensitive wildlife areas such as Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Measures are being implemented to address and mitigate potential adverse effects on these ecological zones. As the construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project progresses, it inches closer to realising its vision of transforming regional travel. Upon completion, the project is poised to substantially reduce travel times, enhance connectivity, and usher in a new era of high-speed transportation in India.
