Marking a major milestone in India’s first high-speed rail venture, the second mountain tunnel breakthrough for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project has been successfully achieved in Palghar district of Maharashtra. The development underscores rapid progress in one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Tuesday.
Addressing the media, Vaishnaw described the achievement as a moment of national significance, highlighting the pace and scale at which the project is advancing. “The entire country is watching India’s first rail speed project. Its breakthrough was achieved in the second mountain tunnel in Palghar district within one month,” he said, pointing to the efficiency of engineering execution in challenging terrain.
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, India’s flagship bullet train project, involves complex construction across urban, rural, and hilly landscapes. The successful completion of the second tunnel breakthrough in Palghar is seen as a critical step, given the geological and environmental challenges of the region. Officials say the tunnelling work reflects the adoption of advanced construction technologies and international best practices.
Vaishnaw also noted that several other components of the project are progressing steadily. “The stations and bridges are at an advanced stage of development,” he said, indicating that multiple segments of the corridor are moving towards completion in parallel. The project is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad while setting new benchmarks for rail safety, speed, and passenger comfort in India.
Placing the bullet train project in a broader national context, the Union Minister said that the Union Budget has announced seven new high-speed rail corridors, signalling the government’s long-term commitment to modernising India’s rail infrastructure. He further highlighted the scale of ongoing railway investments in Maharashtra.
“Rs 16,000 crores’ worth of work is underway for the Mumbai suburban network, and the budget for Maharashtra railway is Rs 23,926 crore,” Vaishnaw said. These investments aim to decongest suburban rail services, improve passenger amenities, and enhance overall network capacity in one of the country’s busiest railway zones.
Railway officials believe that the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project will serve as a template for future high-speed rail corridors across India, boosting economic growth, generating employment, and strengthening regional connectivity. As construction milestones continue to be achieved, the project remains a key symbol of India’s push towards next-generation transport infrastructure.
