New Delhi, Jul 14: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has crossed a major milestone with the opening of the first segment of a 21-kilometre undersea tunnel between Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane. The achievement marks a major step forward in India’s first bullet train project, which is rapidly taking shape across Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Press release from Railway ministry said that construction is advancing swiftly along the 508-km corridor. So far, 310 km of viaducts have been completed, with civil works progressing at pace. Fifteen river bridges are fully built and four more are nearing completion. Out of the planned 12 stations, five are already finished and three more are approaching the final stages. The underground station at BKC, designed as a structural and architectural feat, will be located 32.5 metres below ground and engineered to support a future 95-metre high-rise above it.
Parallel to civil infrastructure, critical systems for train operation, including track laying, overhead electrical wiring, and signalling, are also being developed at speed. Procurement and installation of control systems are proceeding in tandem.
In a major boost to the India-Japan strategic partnership, the Japanese government has agreed to introduce the next-generation E10 series of Shinkansen trains for the project. These state-of-the-art trains will be deployed simultaneously in Japan and India, marking a historic collaboration. Currently, Japan runs the E5 series, with the E10 expected to bring enhanced speed, safety, and passenger comfort. The entire corridor is being developed using Japanese Shinkansen technology, widely regarded as a global benchmark in high-speed rail for its unmatched standards of reliability and safety.
