Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Completes 386 km Of Pier Foundation And 272 km Of Viaduct, Track-Laying To Begin Soon

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has recorded substantial progress, with the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) confirming the completion of 386 km of pier foundation and 272 km of viaduct as of 27 February 2025, PTI reported.

However, track-laying work is yet to commence.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the project's advancement in Ahmedabad on 1 March and expressed his satisfaction with the pace of construction.

The NHSRCL stated that alongside the completed pier foundation, 372 km of pier work has been finalised, while girder casting has been completed across 305 km.

Experts in civil engineering explained that the pier foundation involves excavating a base for a large-diameter cylindrical column, which, when constructed above ground using concrete and metal, constitutes the pier structure.

Girders—concrete superstructures placed atop two piers—form an integral part of the viaduct.

The corporation further reported that track bed preparation has been completed over 112 km in Gujarat, and overhead electrification works have begun.

Although track laying has not started, officials assured that it would commence soon, as the supporting infrastructure is now in place.

The bullet train will serve 12 stations—Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.

The NHSRCL confirmed that structural work has been completed for six out of the eight planned stations in Gujarat, while work is underway on three elevated stations in Maharashtra. At Mumbai, the 12th station, base slab construction is currently in progress.

Additionally, all 13 planned river bridges along the route have been completed. These include bridges over rivers such as Par, Auranga, Kolak, Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, Venganiya, Kaveri, Kharera, Mohar, Vatrak, Meshwa, and Dhadhar.

The NHSRCL highlighted the completion of six steel bridges and five prestressed concrete bridges at key intersections, ensuring smooth passage over roads and highways.

Furthermore, noise barriers have been installed over a 130 km stretch of the route to mitigate sound pollution.

The project also features seven mountain tunnels in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, all currently under construction using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).

Meanwhile, significant progress has been made on the 21 km tunnel between Bandra Kurla Complex and Shilphata in Maharashtra, including the 7 km undersea stretch beneath Thane Creek.