While the bullet train work in Gujarat is progressing rapidly, the situation in Mumbai is different, with the project stalled for the past three months.
Mumbai: To expedite progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, authorities have decided to utilize a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for constructing the main tunnel. A specially designed machine for this purpose is being manufactured in Japan and will arrive in Mumbai within three months. It is important to note that while the bullet train work in Gujarat is progressing rapidly, the situation in Mumbai is different, with the project stalled for the past three months.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Satisfied With Progress
According to the Maharashtra Times report, work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is nearing completion. On Saturday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected the under-construction tunnel and expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress. Speaking to the reporters, Vaishnaw stated that the design for the underwater tunnel has been finalized and is being constructed with great precision.
Here are some of the key details:
- The project includes a 21-kilometer-long tunnel, with a seven-kilometer stretch running under Thane Creek.
- This tunnel will connect the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station to Shilphata.
- It is the first of its kind in India to be constructed under the sea.
- According to the Mumbai bullet train construction plan, two TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines) were expected to arrive by October 2024, with a third TBM scheduled for 2025.
- The first two TBMs were to complete tunneling from Ghansoli (Savli) to Vikhroli and from Vikhroli to the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) by December 2024.
- The excavation work for the third TBM is planned for 2025.
- Afcons Infrastructure has been awarded the contract to excavate a 21-kilometer-long tunnel between BKC and Shilphata.
- This includes a 7-kilometer-long underwater tunnel beneath the creek. The tunnel will be located at a depth ranging from 25 to 65 meters below ground level.
- Its deepest point will be 114 meters beneath the Parsik Hill.
NHSRCL Managing Director Vivek Kumar Gupta stated that the construction of the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) is currently underway in Japan and the machine will arrive in two to three months. The size of the TBM for the bullet train will be larger compared to the TBM used for city metros. While metros use TBMs with a diameter of around 5-6 meters, the TBM for the bullet train will have a diameter of 13.1 meters.
What Will Be the Speed of the Train?
The Railway Ministry stated that the tunnel has been designed to allow two trains to travel at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. Measures have also been implemented to prioritize environmental conservation, along with proper ventilation and lighting. Additionally, construction on the 340-kilometer stretch of the project is advancing smoothly.
