India's ambitious bullet train project has crossed a significant engineering hurdle with the successful completion of its first mountain tunnel. The breakthrough of the 1.5-kilometer long Mountain Tunnel-5 (MT-5) in Maharashtra's Palghar district marks a pivotal step forward for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor.
A Virtual Milestone Celebration
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw virtually witnessed the final breakthrough from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday. Addressing the media, the minister hailed the event as a crucial achievement for the national infrastructure project. "Today, a major milestone has been achieved in the Bullet Train Project. This milestone is the breakthrough of Mountain Tunnel-5," Vaishnaw stated.
He elaborated that this tunnel is the first of seven mountain tunnels planned along the route, which also includes one undersea passage. Located between the upcoming Virar and Boisar stations, this tunnel is among the longest in the Palghar district.
Clearing the Path and Addressing Delays
The minister provided a clear update on the project's geography, stating that "with this (tunnel breakthrough) everything between Thane and Ahmedabad is clear now." He identified the Mumbai-Thane undersea stretch as the remaining major constraint.
Vaishnaw also shed light on planning challenges, particularly concerning depots. While only two depots are typically needed for a 508-kilometer stretch, three are being constructed for this project. He attributed this to delays in permission approvals during the previous Maharashtra government's tenure under Uddhav Thackeray. "Because of this delay, additional arrangements had to be made," he explained.
The Roadmap to 2027: Phased Launch and Ticket Quip
In a major announcement, the Railway Minister confirmed the target for India's first bullet train run. "The bullet train will be ready in 2027, August 15th, 2027," Vaishnaw declared earlier this week.
He detailed a phased operational rollout for the corridor:
- The first section to open will connect Surat to Bilimora.
- This will be followed by the Vapi to Surat link.
- Next, the section from Vapi to Ahmedabad will become operational.
- Subsequently, the Thane to Ahmedabad stretch will open.
- Finally, the entire Mumbai to Ahmedabad corridor will be fully functional.
In a light-hearted moment, Vaishnaw joked, "for the bullet train … you can buy a ticket now itself, as it will be operational by 2027."
Project Snapshot and Other Updates
The 508-km high-speed rail line will pass through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Designed for speeds of 320 kmph, it is set to slash travel time between the two megacities to approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes.
According to a ministry note, this is the second tunnel breakthrough in Maharashtra. The first was a 5-km underground tunnel between Thane and the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) station, completed in September 2025. The project will feature 12 stations, with terminal stations at Sabarmati in Ahmedabad and BKC in Mumbai.
In related news, Vaishnaw also announced that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train is scheduled for launch this month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the service in the second half of January 2026.
