Railway ministry postpones formal launch of bullet train tunneling work amid Mumbai rains

The Railway Ministry on Saturday, July 5, 2026, postponed the official start of tunneling work for the high-speed rail project in Mumbai due to adverse weather conditions and told officials to start the work immediately.

Ministry officials said that it has been raining in Mumbai for the last few days and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued ‘red’ and ‘orange’ alerts for the next few days.

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“Considering the adverse weather conditions, we have decided to postpone the official launch of the underground tunnel boring work, which will be carried out by the Hon’ble Railway Minister using tunnel boring machines for the first time in the high-speed train project,” a senior official said. he said.

“However, to ensure that the project is not delayed, we have asked the National High Speed ​​Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) to start the work immediately without the official launch,” the official added.

NHSRCL officials said that the underground tunnel boring work carried out by Afcons Infrastructure Limited will now initiate the TBM operation for the timely completion and commissioning of the bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is scheduled to inaugurate underground tunneling work from Vikhroli to Bandra Kurla Complex station in Mumbai on Sunday, July 5, 2026; This marked the first time a tunnel boring machine was used for the country’s first high-speed rail project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

The two customized German-made tunnel boring machines (TBM), imported by sea from China in March 2026, belong to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, which is building a 20.37 km tunnel, including 7 km of the subsea area. The tunnel will be built at a depth of approximately 65 meters above ground level.

The first TBM will start tunneling from Vikhroli towards BKC station, covering a distance of about 5.8 km, officials said.

The second TBM is currently being assembled in Sawli and is expected to be ready within a week. It will excavate 9.7 kilometers from Sawli to Vikhroli, including the 7-kilometer subsea section.

Each TBM is expected to dig approximately 300 meters of tunnels per month. When both machines come into service, approximately 600 meters of tunnels will be opened per month.

Explaining the project, officials said that the 20.37-kilometer tunnel extends from BKC station to Shilphata.

“15.4 km of the total length between BKC and Sawli will be excavated with TBMs. The remaining 4.8 km from Sawli to Shilphata has been completed by drill-blasting method.” they said.

The tunnel will be a single-tube road that will accommodate double track for two-way traffic.

Two wells with depths of approximately 56 and 39 meters at Vikhroli and Sawli will facilitate the construction. As part of the package, 39 equipment rooms will also be built at 37 locations adjacent to the tunnel.

These TBMs are among the largest and most expensive heavy machines to be deployed in India.

Each has a cutter head diameter of 13.6 metres, making them some of the largest tunnel boring machines used on any railway project across the country.

By comparison, cutter head diameters of TBMs used for urban metro rail systems are typically 5 to 6 meters.

India’s first high-speed rail project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed ​​Rail Corridor, covers 508 km and aims to provide high-speed connectivity between Maharashtra and Gujarat.