India’s first high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has entered a new phase of construction maturity, with over 326 kilometres of viaduct work now completed across the route. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the project’s implementing agency, reported that multiple civil, structural, and track components have advanced simultaneously, signalling sustained momentum for one of the country’s most ambitious transport modernisation efforts.
According to officials, the 508-kilometre corridor is seeing “consistent progress” across Gujarat and Maharashtra, with the majority of foundational work either completed or moving ahead as per schedule. More than 400 kilometres of pier construction has been finished, while 17 river bridges and 10 steel bridges have been erected to support the elevated alignment. Over two lakh noise barriers have also been installed across more than 200 kilometres of track, an essential requirement to minimise environmental disturbance and ensure compliance with long-term sustainability norms. In Surat district—one of the busiest and most technically demanding stretches—the viaduct, reinforced concrete track bed, rail systems and noise barriers have all been completed. A senior project engineer noted that this zone represents “the benchmark for how integrated high-speed rail infrastructure can reshape mobility while balancing safety, environmental considerations, and urban efficiency.”
Work is also progressing on seven mountain tunnels in Palghar district of Maharashtra, a challenging section that demands high-precision engineering and careful ecological management. In addition, superstructure construction at key stations in Gujarat is well advanced, while work on three elevated stations in Maharashtra has commenced. Excavation for the Mumbai underground station—one of the most complex components of the corridor—is also underway. The bullet train will operate at speeds of up to 320 kmph, connecting major urban and industrial hubs across Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli. With 12 stations planned across the route, the high-speed system aims to reduce long-distance travel times, cut fuel consumption and support a modal shift away from private road transport. Mobility experts say the project could play a pivotal role in shaping more sustainable inter-city travel patterns over the coming decades.
Funded through an Official Development Assistance loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project is also introducing India to advanced construction technologies. Nearly 90 per cent of the alignment is elevated and built using the Full Span Launching Method—being deployed at this scale in India for the first time. Officials describe this technique as central to improving quality control, reducing construction time, and minimising land disruption, aligning with India’s broader push for greener and more resilient infrastructure development. As work continues on remaining viaduct, track and tunnelling segments, planners emphasise that the corridor is intended not only to improve inter-city connectivity but to reinforce a long-term shift toward low-emission, high-efficiency transport systems. For rapidly growing cities across western India, the high-speed rail network represents a structural investment in cleaner mobility and future-ready urban development.
Mumbai High-Speed Rail Marks 326 Km Viaduct Completion In Ongoing Project
