Ashwini Vaishnaw Marks Bullet Train Tunnel Breakthrough, First Phase Expected by 2027

Rapid Summary:

• A 4.88 km tunnel breakthrough between Shilphata and Ghansoli was achieved for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project on September 20, 2025.
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attended and initiated the tunnel breakthrough, calling it a “landmark achievement.”
• The first phase of the high-speed corridor (Surat-Bilimora section) is scheduled to begin operations in December 2027, with subsequent phases covering Thane in 2028 and Bandra Kurla Complex in 2029.
• Bullet train fares will be “reasonable” with no ticket reservations required; passengers can board directly.
• Mumbai-Ahmedabad travel will reduce from nine hours to two hours and seven minutes on the bullet train. During peak hours, trains are planned every half hour initially, increasing to every ten minutes later.
• Excavation of the NATM-based tunnel started in May 2024 through three phased efforts; an intermediate tunnel permitted simultaneous excavation from both ends.Future tunneling tasks will use TBMs for remaining segments.
• Completed projects include over bridges (17 river bridges & nine steel bridges), viaducts (321 km), track bed construction (206 km), noise barriers across a stretch of 206 km, and installation of overhead equipment across portions spanning up to 48 km.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The completion of this critical segment marks another milestone for India’s inaugural high-speed rail project connecting economic hubs like mumbai and Ahmedabad with unprecedented efficiency. As emphasized by officials, cutting travel time dramatically could boost productivity while promoting regional connectivity for both urban centers and satellite towns along its path.

Ministerial assurances regarding fare affordability aim at making advanced transportation accessible across societal strata rather solely serving elites