News Brief
India's Bullet Train Project Overcomes Hurdle As Stranded Chinese Equipment Clears Port Amid Detente With Beijing
Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project (Representative image).
In a significant development for India's Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, a giant Chinese-made Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), previously stranded at a port in China due to supply chain restrictions, is now en route to Mumbai and expected to arrive by Wednesday (24 September).
This comes amid easing tensions between India and China, following diplomatic talks that have led to a detente in bilateral relations.
The TBM, crucial for excavating underground sections of the high-speed rail corridor, had been stuck since June 2025, as reported in earlier updates.
Media reports revealed that China's tightening of export controls on machinery, including rare earths and fertilizers, had impacted several Indian projects.
However, assurances from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in August 2025 addressed India's concerns, paving the way for the equipment's release.
The machine is set to dock at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), with a second set following soon, according to officials from the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC).
This breakthrough aligns with recent progress in the project, including the completion of a 4.88 km tunnel between Shilphata and Ghansoli using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).
The entire corridor, spanning 508 km with an operational speed of 320 km/h, is expected to be ready by 2029, reducing travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just over two hours.
Meanwhile, the detente signals a return to normalcy in supply chains, which had been disrupted by geopolitical frictions.
Experts note that this resolution could prevent further delays in the Rs 1. 08 lakh crore project, funded largely by Japan with Shinkansen technology.
Construction has advanced with 321 km of viaducts and 398 km of piers completed, along with over 4 lakh noise barriers installed.
