Tunnel Breakthrough Achieved at Ghansoli for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train
A 4.88 km tunnel between Shilphata and Ghansoli was successfully connected, marking a major milestone in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project.
A significant milestone was reached on Saturday morning with the breakthrough of a 4.88 km-long tunnel between Shilphata and Ghansoli, advancing India's flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) announced the accomplishment, achieved through a controlled blast at the Ghansoli shaft, with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in attendance. This tunnel forms a crucial segment of the 21 km underground stretch from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Shilphata, including a challenging 7 km passage beneath Thane Creek, showcasing advanced engineering in one of the world's most ambitious rail initiatives.
Excavation commenced in May 2024 using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM), a sequential approach involving drilling, blasting, and immediate support installation to navigate complex geology. The project progressed in three phases, with the first 2.7 km continuous breakthrough on July 9. An auxiliary development intermediate tunnel (ADIT) facilitated simultaneous work from both ends, enhancing efficiency. The NATM tunnel boasts a 12.6-meter internal width and will serve as a single-tube, 13.1-meter diameter structure housing twin tracks for bidirectional high-speed operations. Following this success, the tunnel now seamlessly connects the Savali shaft to the Shilphata portal, integrating with the elevated viaduct section.
Safety protocols were paramount throughout, featuring settlement markers, piezometers, inclinometers, strain gauges, and restricted access to monitor ground stability. Ventilation systems pumped fresh air to workers, mitigating risks in the subterranean environment. The next stages include waterproofing, concrete lining, finishing, and equipment setup, while the remaining 16 km of tunneling will employ state-of-the-art tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for precision and speed. These measures align with international standards, drawing from Japanese Shinkansen expertise in the 508 km corridor, designed for trains reaching 320 km/h to halve travel time between the financial capital and Gujarat's commercial hub.
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The MAHSR, India's first bullet train venture launched in 2017 with a Rs 1.08 lakh crore budget, has seen robust progress: 321 km of viaduct completed, 398 km of piers erected, 17 river bridges, nine steel spans, and over four lakh noise barriers across 206 km installed. Track bed construction spans 206 km, with more than 2,000 overhead equipment masts on 48 km of mainline viaduct. Despite pandemic delays shifting the original 2023 target, officials aim for partial operations by 2028, promising economic boosts through enhanced connectivity, job creation, and reduced logistics costs in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad industrial belt.
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