Project to cut Mumbai–Ahmedabad travel time to under two hours, boost jobs and offer affordable high-speed travel
BuzzBytes
New Delhi, Jan 2, 2026: Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Friday announced a major milestone in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project with the successful breakthrough of the first mountain tunnel in Maharashtra at Palghar district.
The breakthrough was achieved in the second tunnel of the project, an approximately 1.5-kilometre-long mountain tunnel (MT-5), one of the longest in Palghar district, located between Virar and Boisar bullet train stations. The tunnel was excavated simultaneously from both ends and completed within 18 months using the advanced drill-and-blast method.
The minister said the technique allowed real-time monitoring of ground behaviour and enabled the deployment of support systems such as shotcrete, rock bolts and lattice girders based on site conditions. He added that all safety measures, including ventilation, fire prevention and proper access and exit arrangements, were strictly followed throughout the tunnelling process.
Vaishnaw said the Bullet Train project is creating significant employment opportunities and will generate further jobs during its operational phase. He noted that once completed, the project will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just 1 hour and 58 minutes, strengthening economic integration between major commercial hubs.
Earlier, the first underground tunnel of nearly 5 kilometres between Thane and Bandra Kurla Complex was completed in September 2025. The MAHSR project has a total length of 508 kilometres, including 27.4 kilometres of tunnels, of which 21 kilometres are underground and 6.4 kilometres are surface tunnels. The project includes eight mountain tunnels, seven of them in Maharashtra with a combined length of about 6.05 kilometres, and one tunnel of 350 metres in Gujarat.
Highlighting the broader impact of the project, the minister said it will spur economic activity along the corridor, facilitate technology and knowledge transfer, and support the development of new industrial and IT hubs. He said the bullet train would cater to the aspirations of the middle class by providing comfortable and affordable high-speed travel.
Vaishnaw also underlined the environmental benefits of the project, stating that it is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 95 per cent compared to road transport once operational.
In Maharashtra, work is currently underway on seven mountain tunnels. MT-1, measuring 820 metres, has achieved 15 per cent progress, while MT-2 of 228 metres is under preparatory work. MT-3, with a length of 1,403 metres, has recorded 35.5 per cent completion, and MT-4 of 1,260 metres has achieved 31 per cent progress. MT-6, measuring 454 metres, has progressed to 35 per cent, while MT-7 of 417 metres has achieved 28 per cent completion, taking the total mountain tunnel length in Maharashtra to around 6 kilometres.
The 508-kilometre-long MAHSR corridor spans 352 kilometres in Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and 156 kilometres in Maharashtra. It will connect major cities including Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane and Mumbai, marking a transformative leap in India’s transportation infrastructure.
