Third Mountain Tunnel breakthrough achieved in Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project has achieved another major milestone with the successful breakthrough of its third mountain tunnel, MT-07, in Maharashtra's Palghar district. The tunnel, located at Ambesari village in Dahanu Taluka, measures 417 metres in length and 14.4 metres in width and is designed to accommodate both up and down tracks of the high-speed rail corridor.

The breakthrough marks rapid progress in one of the most technically challenging sections of India’s first bullet train project. Notably, three mountain tunnel breakthroughs have now been completed in Maharashtra within just five months, highlighting the accelerated pace of construction on the flagship infrastructure project.

The MT-07 tunnel was excavated using a controlled drilling and blasting method from both ends, supported by advanced engineering practices and stringent safety protocols. Real-time monitoring systems, including surface settlement points, 3D targets, strain gauges and seismographs, were deployed throughout the excavation process to ensure structural stability, precision execution and worker safety.

Authorities said comprehensive safety measures such as ventilation systems, fire protection arrangements, controlled access and continuous geotechnical supervision were maintained during construction. These technologies are expected to play a crucial role in supporting safe and efficient high-speed train operations in the future.

The latest achievement follows the breakthrough of MT-05, a 1.5-km-long tunnel near Saphale in Palghar district, completed on January 2, 2026. The second breakthrough, MT-06, a 454-metre tunnel excavated using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), was achieved on February 3, 2026.

Of the eight mountain tunnels planned for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor, seven are located in Maharashtra's Palghar district and one in Gujarat's Valsad district, where tunnelling work has already been completed. Among the Maharashtra tunnels, MT-03 has crossed 80 per cent excavation progress, while MT-04 has reached nearly 60 per cent completion. Work on MT-01 and MT-02 is also progressing steadily.

The route between Boisar in Maharashtra and Vapi in Gujarat passes through a key industrial belt and includes three mountain tunnels — MT-08, MT-07 and MT-06 — all of which have now been successfully excavated. The project is expected to significantly boost India's high-speed rail capabilities and strengthen the country's expertise in advanced tunnelling and railway infrastructure technologies.