India is poised to achieve a groundbreaking feat in its railway history with the construction of its first-ever undersea tunnel, a key feature of the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, also known as the bullet train project. This milestone was recently inspected by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who expressed satisfaction with the progress on the project during his visit on January 18.
About India’s First Undersea Tunnel
The undersea tunnel, spanning an impressive 21 kilometers, includes a 7-kilometer stretch that runs beneath the Thane Creek. Designed to facilitate bullet trains travelling at speeds of up to 250 km/h, this state-of-the-art tunnel will feature two parallel tracks. The tunnel is a marvel of modern engineering, setting new benchmarks for Indian infrastructure.
The tunnel is strategically located between the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station in Mumbai and Shilphata. The design of the station at BKC, featuring 10 underground floors and seven above-ground levels, is expected to be a significant architectural achievement. Unlike other similar projects, such as Kolkata’s under-river metro tunnel, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad tunnel will allow trains to operate at much higher speeds, setting it apart as a significant advancement in high-speed rail technology.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor
The entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, measuring 508 kilometers in length, will consist of 12 stations, including Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar (Maharashtra), Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati (Gujarat). The bullet train route, estimated at a cost of Rs 1.08 lakh crore, is expected to bring transformative changes to the region’s connectivity and economic integration.
Minister Vaishnaw highlighted that the completion of this high-speed rail corridor would not only improve transportation between Mumbai and Ahmedabad but also stimulate urban development across the cities it connects. He praised the efforts of Indian engineers, emphasizing that their expertise has been crucial in making this ambitious project a reality.