The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is making notable progress, with significant developments reported as of February 27, 2025. According to the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), 386 kilometers of pier foundation work has been completed, and 272 kilometers of viaduct has been constructed out of the total 508 kilometers. However, track laying work is yet to begin.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited Ahmedabad on March 1 to assess the project’s progress and expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction.
The NHSRCL reported that, in addition to completing the pier foundation for 386 kilometers, 372 kilometers of pier work has been prepared, and girder casting has been completed for 305 kilometers.
Understanding the Key Stages of Construction
Pier foundation is the first step, where a base is dug to install large cylindrical columns underground. These columns are then erected using concrete and metal, forming the pier work. Once two piers are connected with a concrete superstructure, it forms the girder casting. Once these structures are completed over long stretches, they form a viaduct. The NHSRCL confirmed that 305 kilometers of girder casting is finished, and the track bed, which will hold the track, has been laid for 112 kilometers in Gujarat.
Additionally, overhead electrification work has already begun in Gujarat.
Project Details and Future Work
Despite the track laying still being pending, the NHSRCL confirmed that all other associated infrastructure work is ready for the next stage. The 508-kilometer project spans across Gujarat, Dadar & Nagar Haveli, and Maharashtra, with 352 kilometers of the route in Gujarat and the remaining 156 kilometers in Maharashtra.
The bullet train will have 12 stations, including Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati. Work has already been completed for six of the eight planned stations in Gujarat, with construction underway for three elevated stations in Maharashtra. In Mumbai, work on the base slab of the 12th station is currently in progress.
Bridges and Tunnels: Key Infrastructure Updates
There are 13 river bridges along the entire 508-kilometer route. All have been completed, with notable bridges crossing the Par, Auranga, and Kolak rivers in Valsad district, as well as the Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, Venganiya, Kaveri, and Kharera rivers in Navsari district. Other bridges spanning the Mohar, Vatrak, Meshwa, and Dhadhar rivers have also been constructed swiftly.
The project also includes six steel bridges and five prestressed concrete bridges where the bullet train will cross roads and highways. Noise barriers have been installed on both sides of over 130 kilometers of the route to minimize disruption.
In addition to bridges, the project includes seven mountain tunnels in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, all currently under construction using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM).
Tunnel Progress: A Significant Achievement
One of the most challenging aspects of the project is the 21-kilometer tunnel between Bandra Kurla Complex and Shilphata in Maharashtra. The NHSRCL has reported significant progress on this tunnel, with a 7-kilometer stretch passing under the sea at Thane Creek.
As the project continues, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train is set to revolutionize high-speed rail travel in India, with robust infrastructure and innovation driving its rapid development.
