GS2 IMTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, India’s first bullet train project, achieved a key breakthrough as the excavation for a 4.8 km undersea tunnel between Mumbai and Thane was successfully completed. This is part of a 21 km long tunnel, the first of its kind in India, being constructed by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
Project Timeline and Phases
- First operational phase: Surat to Bilimora by 2027
- Extension to Thane: by 2028
- Complete Mumbai–Ahmedabad connectivity: by 2029
- Travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will reduce to just 2 hours 7 minutes
- Train speed: Average 320 kmph
Engineering Feat
- Tunnel excavation executed from Ghansoli and Shilphata ends simultaneously.
- The project overcame complex geological and underwater challenges.
- Advanced Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) and the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) were used for safe execution.
Japan’s Strategic Role
- The project is being developed with Japanese collaboration under India–Japan economic partnership.
- Japan is supplying E10 Series Shinkansen technology, the next-generation bullet train model.
- Indian loco pilots are undergoing simulator-based training in Japan, ensuring global safety standards.
- Financing support is being extended through a soft loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Operational Highlights
- Initial service frequency: 1 train every 30 minutes
- Future target frequency: every 10 minutes based on demand
- Stations designed for multi-modal connectivity and green energy integration
Challenges and Project Delays
- The ₹1.08 lakh crore project faced a 2.5-year delay due to land acquisition hurdles and state-level permissions in Maharashtra.
- Cost escalations occurred due to delays.
- IIT Mumbai is currently surveying structural cracks reported in 78 residential houses located along the bullet train alignment to ensure safety compliance.