India is embarking on a groundbreaking infrastructure project, its first-ever undersea rail tunnel! It will form a crucial part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. The tunnel’s undersea portion will stretch across seven kilometres beneath Thane Creek. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the tunnel’s sophisticated engineering incorporates advanced ventilation and lighting systems. Here are all of the other important details that you would need to know about this particular pioneering infrastructure initiative in India.
India’s First Undersea Rail Tunnel To Come Up Very Soon
🚄 Bharat’s first under sea rail tunnel!
Visited Bullet train project site and inspected the work progress of ADIT (Additionally Driven Intermediate Tunnel).
📍Ghansoli, Mumbai pic.twitter.com/UWvJ3zOFL3— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) January 18, 2025
According to an article that was recently published by Times Now or TN, the undersea tunnel is part of a larger tunnel connecting Bandra-Kurla Complex or BKC station to Shilphata. This larger tunnel is a total of 21 kilometres, featuring twin tracks within a single tube structure.
The innovative design allows bullet trains to traverse the tunnel at speeds of 250 kilometres per hour. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that the tunnel incorporates 39 equipment rooms planned across 37 locations.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train route spans 508 kilometres, incorporating 12 stations across Maharashtra and Gujarat. The project, developed with Japanese Railway expertise, represents an investment of ₹1.08 lakh crore. The contract of the tunnel, as per a Business Today article, costs ₹6,397 Crore.
Progress has been steady, with construction already completed on 340 kilometres of the corridor. A notable feature is the Bandra-Kurla Complex station, described by Vaishnaw as an “engineering marvel”.
A Part Of The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Corridor
🚨 The work for India’s first undersea rail tunnel, for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor has commenced. pic.twitter.com/N8xeuQvRwM
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) July 17, 2024
The station’s unique architecture comprises ten underground levels and seven above-ground floors, showcasing India’s growing technological prowess in railway infrastructure. The minister emphasised that the project transcends mere transportation, serving as a catalyst for economic integration.
The high-speed rail corridor is expected to revolutionise urban development along its route whilst significantly reducing travel time for daily commuters. Japanese experts are closely monitoring and approving the ongoing construction work, ensuring adherence to international standards.
The project demonstrates India’s commitment to modernising its transport infrastructure, with the undersea tunnel standing as a testament to the country’s engineering capabilities and ambitious vision for the future.
What do you think of this new pioneering infrastructure milestone in the history of Indian railways? Let us know in the comments section below!
Cover Image Credits: @AshwiniVaishnaw and @IndianTechGuide/X (Formerly, Twitter)
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First Published: January 19, 2025 2:10 PM