Mumbai: The National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) announced the completion of a significant excavation milestone for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project on Monday.
The excavation of a 394-metre-long tunnel in Navi Mumbai has been successfully finished, marking a crucial step in the ambitious infrastructure endeavour. The NHSRCL, overseeing the project, revealed that this accomplishment at Ghansoli would expedite the construction of a 21-kilometre-long tunnel stretching from the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) to Shilphata in Maharashtra. The tunnel includes a seven-kilometre stretch under the Thane Creek. “The excavation work for ADIT began on December 6, 2023, and the entire length of 394 metres was excavated in six months,” NHSRCL said in a release.
The excavation process involved 214 controlled blasts, utilising 27,515 kilograms of explosives under expert supervision, ensuring safety and precision through advanced instrumentation. The project employs the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) for a 3.3-kilometre section, facilitated by a 26-metre-deep inclined ADIT, enabling simultaneous tunnelling access of approximately 1.6 metres on each side. “The ADIT will give direct vehicular access to the main tunnel during construction and operations and may also be used for evacuation in emergencies,” the release said.
Out of the total 21 kilometres, 16 kilometres of the tunnel will be excavated using tunnel boring machines (TBMs), while NATM will be applied for the remaining five kilometres. The NHSRCL confirmed that the construction activities are progressing rapidly, with three shafts at BKC, Vikhroli, and Sawli near Ghansoli currently under construction to support the TBM operations. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor project, with an estimated cost of ₹1.08 lakh crore, is a joint venture between the central government and the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The central government is contributing ₹10,000 crore to the NHSRCL, while Gujarat and Maharashtra are each investing ₹5,000 crore.
This development underscores the project’s momentum, promising to enhance connectivity and bolster economic growth in the region. The completion of the Navi Mumbai tunnel is a testament to the project’s engineering prowess and commitment to timely execution, bringing India one step closer to its high-speed rail aspirations.
