New Delhi: The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, India’s first bullet train corridor, is progressing steadily with major civil works completed across large sections of the route, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha.

Sharing the details of the project in a reply to a question, the Minister said that the 508-km-long Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project passes through Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

According to the latest status update, the entire land measuring 1,389.5 hectares has been acquired, all statutory clearances have been obtained, and 1,651 utilities have been shifted for the project. He said that delays in land acquisition in Maharashtra affected progress until 2021, but acquisition picked up in 2022, allowing construction to accelerate.

Major construction progress

The government said substantial work has been completed on key structural components of the corridor.

• Piers completed: 430 km
• Girder work: 341 km
• Track bed: 174 km
• Overhead equipment (OHE) masts: 153 km

Station construction status

Work on several stations in Gujarat has reached advanced stages.

• Sabarmati: Foundation completed; platform slab, roof structure and finishing work in progress
• Ahmedabad: Structural work completed; finishing work underway
• Vadodara: Foundation completed; structural and finishing works in progress
• Bharuch: Structural work completed; finishing work in progress
• Boisar: Foundation in advanced stage; structural work started
• BKC (Mumbai): Underground station; foundation almost complete and base slab work started
• Work is also in progress at Anand/Nadiad, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Virar and Thane stations.

River bridges under construction

Construction of multiple river bridges along the corridor is underway, with several already completed.
Bridges over Meshwa, Vishwamitri, Kim and Mindhola rivers have been completed, while major bridges over Narmada, Mahi, Tapi and Vaitarna rivers are at advanced stages of construction.
Work on the Sabarmati river bridge has completed the sub-structure, with superstructure work in progress.

Under-sea tunnel work underway

The project also includes a 21-km under-sea tunnel in Maharashtra, one of the most complex parts of the corridor.
So far, 4.8 km of tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata has been completed, and further tunnelling work is in progress.

Officials said the project has gained momentum after land acquisition issues were resolved and construction is now progressing simultaneously at multiple locations across Gujarat and Maharashtra. DeshGujarat