Mumbai: A major milestone has been achieved in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project with the successful breakthrough of the third mountain tunnel at Ambesari village in Dahanu taluka of Maharashtra’s Palghar district.

The tunnel is 417 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and has been designed to accommodate both up and down tracks of the Bullet Train corridor.

The excavation was carried out using the controlled drilling-and-blasting method from both ends. Advanced monitoring systems and geotechnical instruments were deployed throughout the excavation process to ensure structural stability and safety.

Real-time monitoring systems, including Surface Settlement Points (SSPs), 3D targets, strain gauges and seismographs, were installed for continuous monitoring of vibrations, tunnel behaviour and nearby structures during excavation activities.

Special emphasis was placed on worker safety inside the tunnel through proper ventilation systems, fire safety measures, controlled access arrangements and continuous geotechnical monitoring.

Status of Mountain Tunnels in Gujarat and Maharashtra

Of the total eight mountain tunnels in the project, seven are located in Maharashtra’s Palghar district and one is situated in Gujarat’s Valsad district.

MT-08 (350 m): Breakthrough achieved on October 5, 2023

MT-07 (417 m): Breakthrough achieved on June 1, 2026

MT-06 (454 m): Breakthrough achieved on February 3, 2026

MT-05 (1.5 km): Breakthrough achieved on January 2, 2026

MT-04: Nearly 60% excavation completed

MT-03: More than 80% excavation completed

MT-02 and MT-01: Progressing steadily

Key Highlights

With the excavation of this tunnel, three mountain tunnels have been completed in Maharashtra within the last five months, marking rapid progress in one of the most challenging sections of the project.

All three mountain tunnels between the Vapi and Boisar Bullet Train stations have now been successfully excavated.

The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor passes through a key industrial region between Boisar in Maharashtra and Vapi in Gujarat, where construction activities are progressing rapidly.

The section between Boisar and Vapi includes three mountain tunnels — MT-08, MT-07 and MT-06 — all of which have now achieved breakthrough milestones. DeshGujarat