Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project achieves breakthrough with First Mountain Tunnel completion

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): India’s ambitious Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has crossed a major engineering milestone with the successful completion of its first mountain tunnel in Maharashtra. The 1.5-km Mountain Tunnel-5 (MT-5), located in Palghar district between Virar and Boisar, recorded its breakthrough on Friday, marking a crucial step forward in building the country’s first bullet train corridor.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually witnessed the breakthrough event from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi and termed it a “major milestone” for the project. The MAHSR corridor will feature seven mountain tunnels and one undersea tunnel, making it one of the most technically challenging rail projects in the country. With the completion of MT-5, most of the alignment between Thane and Ahmedabad is now ready, while only the undersea stretch between Mumbai and Thane remains pending.

The newly completed tunnel is one of the longest in Palghar district and represents the second major tunnelling breakthrough in Maharashtra. Earlier, in September 2025, a five-kilometre underground tunnel between Thane and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) was completed, another significant milestone in the Mumbai section of the corridor.

Phased commissioning and operations plan

The Railway Minister also reiterated that India’s first bullet train is expected to run on August 15, 2027, beginning with the Surat–Bilimora section. The commissioning will follow a phased approach: Surat to Bilimora, then Vapi to Surat, later Vapi to Ahmedabad, followed by Thane to Ahmedabad, and finally the full Mumbai–Ahmedabad route.

The high-speed rail project covers 508 kilometres across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Designed for speeds up to 320 kmph, the corridor will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to nearly 2 hours and 17 minutes, transforming inter-city connectivity and passenger experience.

The project includes 12 stations with BKC in Mumbai and Sabarmati in Gujarat serving as terminal points. Three depots are currently under construction for the maintenance of high-speed rolling stock. The government has highlighted that additional depots were planned due to earlier delays in approvals in Maharashtra, which affected the project timelines.

Speaking on this development, Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group, said, “The breakthrough of the first mountain tunnel is not just an engineering achievement but a strong signal of India’s resolve to build world-class rail infrastructure. High-speed rail will redefine long-distance travel, boost regional economies, and encourage technology transfer and skill development across the rail ecosystem.”

Broader context and future outlook

The Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is India’s first true high-speed railway and is being implemented with Japanese Shinkansen technology. Beyond reducing travel time, the project is expected to stimulate new economic activity along the corridor, create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and support the government’s larger vision of modern and sustainable transportation.

With multiple pier constructions, viaduct launches, station building works and depot development progressing rapidly in Gujarat and Maharashtra, authorities remain confident about meeting commissioning deadlines. The project is also expected to set benchmarks for future high-speed rail corridors proposed in India, including potential routes such as Delhi–Varanasi and Mumbai–Nagpur.

The Railway Minister also announced that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train will be launched this month, further signalling India’s ongoing shift toward faster, more comfortable, and future-ready rail travel.

As tunnelling breakthroughs, viaduct completions and station works continue, the MAHSR project is gradually moving from concept to reality. The completion of the first mountain tunnel marks a symbolic moment in India’s journey into the era of high-speed rail.