Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Tunnel Breakthrough: A Milestone in High-Speed Rail, ET Infra
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The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) announced the first breakthrough in the 21-kilometre tunnel being constructed between Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai and Shilphata in Thane for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.The breakthrough, achieved on Wednesday, marks the successful completion of a 2.7-kilometre continuous tunnel section utilising the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).The 21-kilometre tunnel is a critical component of the high-speed rail corridor . Of its total length, 16 kilometres will be constructed using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), while the remaining 5 kilometres, particularly between Shilphata and Ghansoli, will employ the NATM. Notably, the tunnel also includes a 7-kilometre undersea section beneath Thane Creek, presenting a unique engineering challenge.To accelerate tunneling in the NATM portion, an Additional Driven Intermediate Tunnel (ADIT) was constructed. This strategic approach enabled simultaneous excavation from both the Ghansoli and Shilphata ends.So far, approximately 1.62 kilometres have been excavated from the Shilphata side, bringing the cumulative NATM progress to 4.3 kilometers.The NHSRCL has implemented comprehensive safety measures at the site to ensure secure and controlled tunneling operations, safeguarding nearby infrastructure and habitats. These measures include the installation of ground settlement markers, piezometers, inclinometers, strain gauges, and biometric access control systems.While this breakthrough is a significant step, sources indicate that TBMs for the 16-kilometre section are yet to be received from manufacturers, although the necessary shafts and other equipment for launching these machines are already in place.The total estimated cost for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor project stands at ₹1.08 lakh crore. The funding structure involves the Union government contributing ₹10,000 crore to the NHSRCL, with Gujarat and Maharashtra each contributing ₹5,000 crore. The remainder of the project cost will be covered by a loan from Japan, offered at a highly favourable interest rate of 0.1 per cent.
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