Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Hits Major Milestone with Third Tunnel Breakthrough

Palghar, June 2, 2026: The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has achieved another major construction milestone with the successful breakthrough of its third mountain tunnel in Maharashtra. The tunnel breakthrough was completed at Ambesari village in Dahanu Taluka of Palghar district, marking significant progress in one of the most challenging stretches of India’s first bullet train corridor.

The newly excavated tunnel, designated MT-07, is 417 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and is designed to accommodate both up and down high-speed rail tracks. Excavation was carried out using a controlled drilling and blasting technique from both ends, supported by advanced monitoring systems to ensure structural integrity and operational safety throughout the construction process.

Engineers deployed sophisticated geotechnical instruments, including Surface Settlement Points (SSP), 3D targets, strain gauges and seismographs, to monitor vibrations, tunnel behaviour and the impact on nearby structures in real time. Worker safety remained a key priority, with dedicated ventilation systems, fire protection measures, controlled access arrangements and continuous geotechnical supervision maintained during excavation.

Three Tunnel Breakthroughs in Five Months

The latest achievement comes amid accelerated construction activity on the Maharashtra section of the bullet train corridor. With the completion of MT-07, three mountain tunnels have been successfully excavated within the past five months:

• MT-05 (1.5 km) – Breakthrough achieved on January 2, 2026

• MT-06 (454 m) – Breakthrough achieved on February 3, 2026

• MT-07 (417 m) – Breakthrough achieved on June 1, 2026

Earlier, MT-08 (350 m) was completed on October 5, 2023.

Key Section Between Boisar and Vapi Completed

The breakthrough also means that all three mountain tunnels located between the Boisar and Vapi Bullet Train stations have now been fully excavated. This section passes through a strategically important industrial belt spanning Maharashtra and Gujarat and is considered crucial for the overall corridor development.

Among the remaining mountain tunnels, MT-03 has crossed 80% excavation progress, while MT-04 has achieved nearly 60% completion. Work on MT-01 and MT-02 is progressing steadily.

Eight Mountain Tunnels Planned

The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project includes a total of eight mountain tunnels, of which seven are located in Maharashtra’s Palghar district and one is situated in Gujarat’s Valsad district.

The rapid pace of tunnelling work highlights growing momentum in the execution of India’s first high-speed rail project, which is expected to transform passenger transportation between Mumbai and Ahmedabad through faster, safer and environmentally sustainable rail connectivity.