Bullet Train project: Shilphata tunnel breakthrough on Saturday, says WR

A major milestone is expected in the ambitious MumbaiAhmedabad Bullet Train project will be achieved after Shilphata tunnel breakthrough in Maharashtras Thane district on Saturday officials saidAs part of the MumbaiAhmedabad HighSpeed Rail MAHSR project the breakthrough will be achieved using NATM New Austrian Tunnelling Method tunnel sources saidThe event will be attended by Ashwini Vaishnaw Union Minister of Railways Information amp Broadcasting and Electronics amp Information Technology they said on FridayThe tunnel forms part of Package C2 of the bullet train corridor and is being constructed by Afcons Infrastructure LtdUnlike tunnel boring machines TBMs the NATM method relies on the surrounding ground to act as a natural support structure As excavation progresses concrete is sprayed onto the tunnel walls to stabilise and reinforce the area ensuring safety and integrity sources saidThe milestone follows several other civil and infrastructure developments completed over recent monthsAshwini Vaishnaw will be visiting the NHSRCL site at Ghansoli on Saturday to grace the Bullet Train Shilphata Tunnel breakthrough event said an officialMeanwhile earlier this month the NHSRCL had on September 8 said that it has signed a contract with Larsen amp Toubro LampT Limited for the design supply and construction of the bullet train track in Maharashtra officials saidAn official statement said that the agreement includes track works for the 157km stretch between the upcoming Mumbai Bullet Train Station and Zaroli village near the MaharashtraGujarat border It also covers four stations and a rolling stock depot at ThaneWork on the Gujarat section of the MumbaiAhmedabad High Speed Rail MAHSR corridor is progressing rapidly with over 200 km of viaduct already constructed under packages T2 and T3 All major track construction contracts have now been awarded to Indian companies boosting local expertise in highspeed rail technology The project uses Japanese Shinkansenstyle ballastless slab track systems which include components such as RC track beds cement asphalt mortar CAM precast slabs and rail fastenersUnder an MoU with NHSRCL the Japan Railway Technical Service JARTS has trained over 430 Indian engineers in Gujarat Similar training programmes will now be conducted in Maharashtra before the construction begins the statement saidProject Progress as on September 8 2025 Viaduct construction 320 km Pier works 397 km Pier Foundation 408 km 17 river bridges 09 steel bridges and 05 PSC pre stressed concrete bridges are completed 4 lakhs noise barriers installed along 203 km of stretch 202 track km of track bed construction completed 1800 OHE masts installed covering approx 44 km of mainline viaduct Work on 21 km tunnel between BKC and Shilphata in Maharashtra in progress Excavation work on 07 mountain tunnels in Palghar district in progressThe officials said that the superstructure work on all stations in Gujarat is at advanced stage Work started on all three elevated stations and base slab casting at Mumbai underground station in Maharashtra is in progress