Australian technology used in drill-and-controlled blast method
The Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced on 3 Feb a significant milestone in the Bullet Train Project with the breakthrough of the second mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra.
The 454-metre tunnel, with a width of 14.4 metres, will accommodate both up and down tracks for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.
This is the second mountain tunnel breakthrough in Palghar district within a span of one month for the Bullet Train project, the first being MT-5 near Saphale on 2 January 2026, he said.
The mountain tunnel (MT-6) was excavated from both ends using New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a cutting-edge drill-and-controlled blast method. The excavation is completed within 12 months.
A mountain tunnel breakthrough marks a key engineering milestone when excavation teams digging from opposite ends of the tunnel finally meet at the center, forming a continuous passage through the mountain.
Vaishnaw congratulated the entire high-speed rail team for their remarkable progress. He said the pace at which the team is working has instilled new confidence in the country. The project is drawing global attention and appreciation due to several new innovations in construction and technology. He highlighted that many advanced construction technologies and large machines being used for the project are manufactured in India.
The Minister stated that the Gujarat section of the bullet train project is expected to begin commercial operations next year. He added that high-speed rail operations are expected to extend up to Thane by 2028, with the corridor reaching Mumbai by 2029.
The New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) is favoured for its flexibility in complex geological conditions like in Palghar district and irregular tunnel shapes where tunnel boring machines are not that suitable. This process does not require very heavy machinery and allows real time adaptation using shotcreting, rock bolts and lattice girders, said the Ministry of Railways.
Meanwhile, construction work is progressing rapidly on multiple fronts in Maharashtra. The project’s longest river bridge on Vaitarna river has reached pier level, apart from foundation level work on other major rivers like Ulhas & Jagani. Work is also progressing rapidly on all four stations, major national and state highway crossings using long span steel bridges and a 21 km long tunnel between Bandra Kurla complex and Shilphata. A total of 7 mountain tunnels are under progress in Palghar district in Maharashtra.
The 508-km MAHSR project, covering 352-km in Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and 156-km in Maharashtra, is expected to foster economic activity along the corridor, facilitate knowledge transfer, and support the development of new industrial and IT hubs. The corridor will connect major cities including Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane, and Mumbai, marking a transformative step in India’s transportation infrastructure.
As on 27 Jan 2026, around 334-km of viaducts, 17 river bridges, and 12 major crossings over national highways, railways, and other infrastructure have been completed. Track laying and electrification works have picked up pace in the Gujarat section of the project, the Ministry said. fiinews.com
