Mumbai, June 2: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has reached a significant milestone with the completion of the third mountain tunnel (MT-07) in Maharashtra. This tunnel is located in Ambesari village, Dahanu taluka of Palghar district, as announced by the Ministry of Railways on Tuesday.
The mountain tunnel, measuring 417 meters in length and 14.4 meters in width, has been constructed with advanced monitoring and safety systems to ensure the smooth operation of high-speed bullet trains. The completion of three mountain tunnels in just five months has accelerated the progress of the country’s first bullet train project.
The ministry further stated that the excavation of the newly completed tunnel was carried out using controlled drilling and blasting methods from both ends. Advanced engineering and safety protocols were strictly followed during the construction process.
To ensure structural stability, worker safety, and precise execution throughout the excavation, state-of-the-art monitoring systems and geotechnical instruments were utilized. Real-time monitoring arrangements, including Surface Settlement Points (SSP), 3D targets, strain gauges, and seismographs, continuously tracked vibrations, tunnel activity, and surrounding structures. Comprehensive worker safety measures, including ventilation systems, fire safety arrangements, controlled access, and ongoing geotechnical supervision, were maintained without any compromise during the tunnel construction.
The ministry noted that this success builds on previous achievements in the Maharashtra segment of the project. The first mountain tunnel (MT-05), measuring 1.5 kilometers, was completed on January 2, 2026, near Safale in Palghar district. This marked the first successful mountain tunnel construction in Maharashtra’s bullet train project. Subsequently, the second tunnel (MT-06) was completed on February 3, 2026, using the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) for a 454-meter-long tunnel. Thus, two successful constructions were completed in Palghar district within a month.
Of the seven mountain tunnels currently under construction in Maharashtra, the excavation work for MT-05, MT-06, and MT-07 has been completed. The excavation for MT-08 (350 meters) was finished on October 5, 2023, while MT-03 is over 80% complete, and MT-04 has reached approximately 60%. Work is ongoing for MT-01 and MT-02. Out of the eight mountain tunnels in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, seven are located in Palghar district of Maharashtra, and one is in Valsad district of Gujarat, which has already been completed.
According to the ministry, the excavation of all three mountain tunnels between the Vapi and Boisar bullet train stations has been successfully completed. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor runs through a crucial industrial area between Boisar in Maharashtra and Vapi in Gujarat, where construction work is progressing rapidly. The route between these two cities includes three mountain tunnels (MT-08, MT-07, and MT-06).
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