A significant engineering milestone has been reached in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project with the successful breakthrough of the third mountain tunnel (MT-07) at Ambesari village in Dahanu Taluka of Palghar district, Maharashtra.
This latest achievement marks the completion of three mountain tunnel breakthroughs in Maharashtra within just five months, highlighting the rapid pace of construction in one of the most complex sections of India’s first high-speed rail corridor.
The newly completed MT-07 tunnel measures 417 metres in length and 14.4 metres in width and has been designed to accommodate both up and down tracks of the Bullet Train corridor. Excavation was carried out using a controlled drilling and blasting technique from both ends, supported by advanced engineering practices and stringent safety measures.
To ensure structural stability, precision, and worker safety throughout the excavation process, sophisticated monitoring systems and geotechnical instruments were deployed. Real-time monitoring arrangements, including Surface Settlement Points (SSP), 3D targets, strain gauges, and seismographs, continuously tracked vibrations, tunnel behaviour, and the impact on surrounding structures. Comprehensive safety measures such as ventilation systems, fire-safety arrangements, controlled access, and continuous geotechnical supervision were maintained throughout the tunnelling operation.
Earlier Tunnel Breakthroughs in Maharashtra:
The breakthrough of MT-07 follows two major tunnelling milestones achieved earlier in the Maharashtra section of the project. The first mountain tunnel breakthrough (MT-05), spanning 1.5 km, was achieved near Saphale in Palghar district on 2 January 2026, marking the first successful mountain tunnel breakthrough for the Bullet Train Project in Maharashtra. This was followed by the second breakthrough (MT-06) on 3 February 2026, involving a 454-metre-long tunnel excavated using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), resulting in two breakthroughs being achieved within approximately one month in Palghar district.
Among the seven mountain tunnels currently under construction in Maharashtra, MT-05, MT-06, and MT-07 have now achieved breakthroughs. MT-08 (350 metre) already achieved breakthrough on 5 October 2023. Meanwhile, MT-03 has crossed 80% excavation progress, MT-04 has reached nearly 60% completion, and work on MT-01 and MT-02 continues steadily. Of the total eight mountain tunnels in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, seven are located in Palghar district of Maharashtra, while one is situated in Valsad district of Gujarat, where tunnelling work has already been completed.
All three mountain tunnels between Vapi and Boisar Bullet Train stations have now been successfully excavated. The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor passes through a major industrial belt between Boisar in Maharashtra and Vapi in Gujarat, where construction activities are advancing rapidly. The route connecting these two cities includes three mountain tunnels — MT-08, MT-07, and MT-06.
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project continues to showcase the adoption of advanced tunnelling, monitoring, and construction technologies. These achievements are strengthening India’s capabilities in high-speed rail infrastructure while laying the foundation for safe, modern, and future-ready rail mobility.
