India is on the brink of a major infrastructure achievement with the construction of its first undersea tunnel as part of the high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
This 7-kilometre tunnel will support bullet trains running at 250 km/h and will feature two parallel tracks, marking a major leap in transportation technology. The tunnel is part of a larger 21-kilometre tunnelling project, which includes sections being excavated using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that high safety standards have been implemented in the construction of India’s first undersea tunnel. Speaking after inspecting construction sites in Mumbai, he stressed that the bullet train project is a key step toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “affordable and fast transportation.”
The high-speed corridor will cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just 2.5 hours, driving economic integration and urban development in the connected regions. A key milestone in the project was the successful completion of the 394-metre-long ADIT tunnel, which facilitates further excavation work and ensures safety.
Minister Vaishnaw also pointed out other ongoing developments, such as bridges across rivers along the route, noting the rapid progress of the bullet train project. He highlighted that the project is accelerating the economic integration of cities along the corridor and will significantly boost urban development.
This ambitious project is a clear sign of India’s growing technological and economic ambitions, setting a new standard for transportation innovation in the country.
