Third Mountain Tunnel for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Completed in Maharashtra

Raipur

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has completed the construction of the third mountain tunnel (MT-07) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project at Ambesari village in Dahanu taluka of Palghar district, marking another major engineering milestone in the high-speed rail corridor.

The completion of three mountain tunnels in Maharashtra within the past five months highlights the rapid progress being made in one of the most technically challenging stretches of the project.

MT-07 is 417 metres long and 14.4 metres wide, designed to accommodate bullet train tracks in both directions. The tunnel was excavated from both ends using the controlled drilling-and-blasting technique while adhering to stringent safety standards.

To ensure structural stability and worker safety, engineers employed advanced geotechnical instruments and real-time monitoring systems throughout the excavation process. Surface settlement points, 3D targets, strain gauges and seismographs were used to continuously monitor tunnel movement, vibrations and the condition of surrounding structures. Comprehensive safety measures, including ventilation systems, fire safety arrangements, controlled access and constant geotechnical supervision, were maintained during construction.

The latest achievement follows the completion of the 1.5-km-long MT-05 tunnel near Safale in Palghar district on January 2, 2026, the first mountain tunnel to be excavated for the project in Maharashtra. This was followed by the completion of MT-06, a 454-metre-long tunnel, on February 3, 2026, using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). The successful completion of MT-05 and MT-06 within a month underscored the pace of construction in the state.

Of the seven mountain tunnels being built in Maharashtra, excavation has now been completed for MT-05, MT-06 and MT-07. Excavation of MT-08 (350 metres) was completed earlier on October 5, 2023. Work on MT-03 has crossed 80% completion, while MT-04 is nearly 60% complete. Construction of MT-01 and MT-02 is progressing steadily.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor includes eight mountain tunnels, seven of which are located in Palghar district of Maharashtra and one in Valsad, Gujarat, where excavation work has already been completed.

With the completion of MT-06, MT-07 and MT-08, excavation of all three mountain tunnels between the bullet train stations at Vapi and Boisar has been finished. This section passes through a key industrial belt spanning Maharashtra and Gujarat, where construction activities are advancing rapidly.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is introducing advanced tunnelling, monitoring and construction technologies to India’s rail infrastructure sector, laying the foundation for safe, efficient and modern high-speed rail transportation.