Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor nears tunnelling

Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is moving closer to underground construction. Two tunnel boring machines are due to reach Jawaharlal Nehru Port on Monday.

The Times of India reported that arrival. Meanwhile, their arrival follows months of delays. Geopolitical issues had held back consignments in China. Railway Supply had previously covered that issue.

TBMs clear a delivery hurdle for the underground section

The latest shipment includes the remaining parts of the first TBM. Its cutter head reached Mumbai around September 24, 2025. In addition, the consignment includes the complete set of components for the second machine. It left China in early March.

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After clearing Chennai port, it was dispatched to Mumbai on March 18. Still, the machines will be used on about 16 km of the underground section. That 20.37-km stretch runs between Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Shilphata. That package includes a 7-km subsea stretch beneath Thane Creek. That scope is noted by NHSRCL.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor underground section

That stretch is regarded as one of the most technically difficult parts of the entire corridor. Also, three TBMs are planned for the Mumbai section. Manufactured by German company Herrenknecht in Guangzhou, the machines use mixshield technology. They are designed to handle soft soil, rock layers, and high-pressure underwater conditions.

At the same time, their cutter heads measure 13.56 metres in diameter. They are among the largest ever used in India. Separately, launch points are planned at BKC, Vikhroli, and Sawli.

Why the route goes underground in Mumbai?

The Mumbai alignment was taken underground because land acquisition constraints were severe. It also had to account for existing and planned elevated metro corridors and bridges. Afcons Infrastructure Ltd is executing this underground package. It involves tunnelling at depths of up to 114 metres.

Meanwhile, the equipment delay required diplomatic intervention. India’s railways and external affairs ministries intervened. The matter was also raised during high-level talks. Still, underground work is expected to begin in about three months. Also, this is India’s first high-speed rail corridor. It is designed for speeds of up to 320 kmph.

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