First Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough Achieved in Bullet Train Project at Palghar, Maharashtra: Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw

The Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced a significant milestone in the Bullet Train Project with the breakthrough of the second tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra.

Event:
The first mountain tunnel breakthrough in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has been achieved at Palghar, Maharashtra.

Tunnel Details:
- Tunnel name: MT-5
- Length: ~1.5 km (1,480 metres), the longest mountain tunnel in Palghar district.
- Excavation method: Drill and blast technique with real-time monitoring and safety systems like shotcrete, rock bolts, and lattice girders.
- Excavation completed in 18 months.

Project Scope:
- Total corridor length: 508 km (352 km in Gujarat & Dadra & Nagar Haveli, 156 km in Maharashtra).
- Tunnel length: 27.4 km (21 km underground, 6.4 km surface).
- Mountain tunnels: 8 total (7 in Maharashtra, 1 in Gujarat).

Progress on Other Tunnels in Maharashtra:
- MT-1: 820 m → 15% complete
- MT-2: 228 m → preparatory works
- MT-3: 1,403 m → 35.5% complete
- MT-4: 1,260 m → 31% complete
- MT-5: 1,480 m → breakthrough achieved (55% complete)
- MT-6: 454 m → 35% complete
- MT-7: 417 m → 28% complete

Impact:
- Travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will reduce to 1 hour 58 minutes.
- Expected to generate employment, foster industrial & IT hubs, and reduce CO₂ emissions by ~95% compared to road transport.
- Designed to provide affordable and comfortable travel for India’s middle class.

This breakthrough marks a transformative step in India’s transport infrastructure, connecting major commercial hubs like Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad with high-speed rail.