Palghar: The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project witnessed its second mountain tunnel breakthrough in Palghar district within a month on Tuesday, bringing the total number of tunnel breakthroughs on the Bullet Train corridor to three so far.

Mountain Tunnel-6 (MT-6) achieved a breakthrough at around 11.30 am. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Palghar MP Hemant Savara witnessed the event virtually. The tunnel measures 454 metres in length and 14.4 metres in width and is designed to accommodate both up and down high-speed rail lines.

This milestone follows the breakthrough of Mountain Tunnel-5 near Saphale on January 2, 2026. The project’s first tunnel breakthrough took place in September 2025 at Ghansoli in Navi Mumbai.

Speaking at the event, Vaishnaw said the pace of work demonstrated consistent progress across the Maharashtra stretch of the corridor. He noted that achieving two tunnel breakthroughs in a single month reflected strong construction momentum, with several complex components, such as tunnels, bridges and stations, being developed simultaneously.

MT-6 was excavated from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), a drill-and-controlled blasting technique suited for challenging geological conditions. Officials said the excavation was completed in 12 months. NATM allows for real-time adjustment of tunnel supports using shotcrete, rock bolts and lattice girders, without the need for heavy tunnel boring machines, making it effective for Palghar’s varied rock formations.

In Palghar district, seven mountain tunnels are currently under construction. As of January 27, 2026, MT-5 has achieved 57% completion, MT-6 stands at 47%, and the remaining tunnels range from early preparatory phases to over 40% completion.

The 508-km MAHSR corridor includes 352 km in Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and 156 km in Maharashtra. Officials said around 334 km of viaducts, 17 river bridges and 12 major crossings have been completed so far, with track laying and electrification progressing rapidly in the Gujarat section. DeshGujarat