E5 Series Shinkansen (Japan’s Bullet Train), which will be modified for use as rolling stock of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor project. (Representative image)
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: India’s bullet train project achieved a major milestone on Monday with the first section of the 21-kilometre undersea tunnel between BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex) and Thane completed.
The 2.7-km tunnel section, part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, has been constructed between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra, said a statement from the railways.
Out of the total 21 km, 5 km is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) between Shilphata and Ghansoli, while the remaining will be built using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). The tunnel also includes a 7-km-long undersea section beneath Thane Creek, the ministry of railways said in a statement.
To expedite tunnelling in the NATM portion, an Additionally Driven Intermediate Tunnel (ADIT) was constructed, allowing simultaneous excavation towards Ghansoli and Shilphata sides, the statement added.
The railways also said, the bullet train project recently achieved a major milestone by completing 310 km of viaduct construction.
"Track laying, construction of overhead electrical wires, stations, and bridges is going on at a rapid pace. The construction work in Maharashtra has also picked up pace. In parallel, the progress on procurement of systems for operations and control is also going on well, " the railways said.
Indian Railways is constructing the country’s first bullet train project using Japanese Shinkansen technology.
The Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project, the railways said.
Japan is currently running E5 trains. Next generation trains are E10, which Japan will also introduce later.
"In the spirit of strategic partnership between Japan and India, the Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project. It is noteworthy that E10 will be introduced simultaneously in India and Japan," the Railways said.
The ministry said that work on 15 river bridges is finished, and work on four is in the advanced stages of construction.
Out of 12 stations, five are completed and three more are now reaching completion, it said.
"The station at BKC is an engineering marvel. The station will be located 32.5 m below ground and the foundation is designed to support the construction of a 95 m high building above ground," the Ministry said.
"The success of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is laying the foundation for future bullet train corridors in India. Future corridors are also under active consideration," it added.