Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today said that the Mumbai – Ahmedabad bullet train project has achieved a major milestone with the breakthrough of around 1.5 kilometres of tunnel connecting Virar and Boisar in Palghar, Maharashtra.

 

 

Addressing the High-Speed Tunnel Breakthrough Programme at Palghar, Maharashtra, through video conferencing, Mr Vaishnaw said there are a total of seven mountain tunnels and one sea tunnel in the project. He said, this is the second mountain tunnel breakthrough in Maharashtra. The Minister said that the bullet train will serve as an affordable and convenient mode of transport for the middle class. 

 

 

The Minister said that India’s first bullet train will be ready by 15th August next year. He said the bullet train corridor will be commissioned in a phased manner, and the first high-speed train will operate on the Surat-Bilimora stretch. Mr Vaishnaw said the construction work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project began in April 2021 and will be commissioned next year.

 

 

Mr Vaishnaw added that the 508-kilometre-long high-speed rail corridor will have a total of 12 stations. He informed that the corridor will connect major cities, including Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane, and Mumbai.