Mumbai Ahmedabad Bullet Train Corridor Advances with 5 km Tunnel Milestone

India’s ambitious bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has reached another major construction milestone, with significant progress reported in one of the corridor’s most complex underground sections. Officials say tunnel work near Mumbai has now moved into an advanced phase.

According to the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) , about five kilometres of the 21 kilometre underground tunnel between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai and Shilphata has been excavated using the New Austrian Tunnelling Metho d (NATM) . The completed stretch lies between Ghansoli and Shilphata, marking an important step in the development of the Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor.

With excavation finished in this portion, engineers have now begun installing key structural and safety systems inside the tunnel. Work is underway to build an advanced drainage system that will safely collect and channel seepage water. In addition, waterproofing membranes are being installed along the tunnel walls to prevent water ingress.

The ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project , India’s first high‑speed rail initiative, was formally launched in September 2017 , with construction beginning soon after as part of a flagship collaboration with Japan. As of March 2026 , substantial progress has been made: out of the 508 km corridor , 343 km of viaducts and 434 km of pier work have already been completed, including numerous bridges and elevated structures, bringing the physical works past the halfway mark . Officials say tunnelling, station construction and track laying are advancing steadily, reflecting a firm push to meet phased targets. The first operational stretch between Surat and Vapi is slated to open by August 2027 , and the full Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor is expected to be completed by late 2029 , barring further delays, a significant milestone in India’s infrastructure transformation.

Officials said overall work on the 508 kilometre high speed rail corridor has picked up pace in recent months. So far, 343 kilometres of viaduct construction an d 434 kilometres of pier work have been completed.

The project has also seen the completion of 17 river bridges, five prestressed concrete bridges and 13 steel bridges , while more than 5.6 lakh noise barriers have been installed along a 280 kilometre stretch .

Construction progress has also been reported in Palghar district of Maharashtra , where breakthroughs have been achieved in two of the seven planned mountain tunnels . Meanwhile, rolling stock depots in Surat and Ahmedabad are currently under development.

While the project has faced delays in the past due to land acquisition challenges and the pandemic, officials say construction momentum has strengthened significantly, bringing India’s first bullet train corridor closer to reality.