Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: Railways postpones formal start of excavation due to inclement weather | Today’s news
The Ministry of Railways on Saturday postponed the formal start of tunneling work for the bullet train project in Mumbai due to inclement weather. According to PTI, the decision was taken following the ‘red’ and ‘orange’ warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Mumbai due to heavy rains in the Maharashtra capital.
Official launch postponed, work continues
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was scheduled to start the excavation of underground tunnels from Vikhroli to Bandra Kurla Complex station in Mumbai on Sunday, marking the first use of a tunnel boring machine for the country’s first bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
“Due to adverse weather conditions, we have decided to postpone the official commencement of underground tunneling work using tunnel boring machines for the first time on the bullet train project by the Hon’ble Railway Minister,” a senior official told PTI.
“However, we have asked the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) to start the work immediately without an official launch so that the project is not delayed,” the official added.
Tunnel boring for bullet train project
According to officials, the excavation of the underground tunnel, which is being done by Afcons Infrastructure Limited, will now start TBM operation for the timely completion and launch of the bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Officials said the first TBM will start excavating the tunnel from Vikhroli towards BKC station, covering a distance of around 5.8 km.
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The second TBM is currently being assembled in Sawli and is expected to be ready within a week. It will excavate a 9.7 km stretch from Sawli to Vikhroli, including a 7 km subsea section.
Each TBM is expected to drive around 300 meters of tunnel each month. After the commissioning of both machines, around 600 meters of tunnels will be completed every month.
Explaining the project, officials said the 20.37 km long tunnel stretches from BKC station to Shilphata.
“Out of the total length, 15.4 km between BKC and Sawli will be excavated using TBM. The remaining 4.8 km section from Sawli to Shilphat has already been completed by drill and blast method,” they said.
The tunnel will be single-tube, which will accommodate two-track tracks for two-way traffic.
Construction will be facilitated by two shafts at Vikhroli and Sawli at depths of approximately 56 and 39 meters respectively. The package will also include the construction of 39 equipment rooms at 37 locations adjacent to the tunnel.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor will be inaugurated in 2027
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor, India’s first bullet train project, is 508 km long and aims to provide high-speed connectivity between Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Meanwhile, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday that the first leg of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project will be inaugurated in 2027.
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“The first section of the Bullet Train from Surat to Bilimora will be inaugurated in 2027. After that, the Wapi-Surat section will be completed in phases, followed by Wapi-Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad-Thane and finally Ahmedabad-Mumbai. The work is progressing very fast,” he said.
The Union Minister added that nearly 80 percent of the work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has been completed and work is on to complete the project within the stipulated time frame.
(With input from agencies)
Key things
- The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is the first initiative of the Indian high-speed rail, covering 508 km.
- 80% of the work on the project is complete and the first part is expected to start by 2027.
- Although the start of tunnel excavation is delayed, work will continue without formal actions to maintain the timeline.
