Construction of Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor
Construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is underway in Maharashtra. Construction of mostly elevated sections in this 135 km long corridor is challenging in high-speed rail projects. The stretch between Shilphata and Jaroli villages near the Gujarat-Maharashtra border will pass through 95 villages and towns in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, covering Thane and Palghar districts.
This corridor involves challenging construction. It also includes 11 steel bridges. This section will have 7 mountain tunnels. At the same time, three stations – Thane, Virar and Boisar – are planned with a rolling stock depot in Thane.
Many highways in Mumbai will cross
The corridor will pass through several major infrastructure facilities, including the Central and Western Railway Lines, a dedicated freight corridor, the Mumbai Suburban Line and the elevated Mumbai Metro Line 5. It will also cross major highways like National Highway-48 and Mumbai-Agra National Highway-3.
The construction of this corridor will involve bridging over four major rivers, the most challenging of which will be the 460-meter long steel bridge over the Ulhas River, which will be the project’s largest steel bridge. While the longest bridge will be built over Vaitarana river which will be 2.32 km long.
Work is going on at various places
North-western Maharashtra includes several ecological hotspots for wildlife. This will include Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary (TWS). Special efforts have been made to ensure that the project does not affect the ecological structure of the area.
Due to its proximity to Mumbai, other infrastructure projects including railway lines and highways are also coming up in the area. Construction progress includes nearing completion of geotechnical investigations. This also includes commencing work on mountain tunnels and completing approximately 265 open bases (approx. 11 km) for ghat work. Foundation work has also started at Boisar and Virar stations.
Travel distance will be reduced
As the construction of this important section is going on. This takes the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project one step closer to transforming travel in the region. By overcoming complex engineering challenges and navigating through densely populated areas and protected wildlife sanctuaries, this section will significantly reduce travel time once completed. will boost regional connectivity and usher in a new era of transportation for the country.
