Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Status: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday carried out the breakthrough blast in the Rs 1.08 lakh-crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project’s Ghansoli site in Maharashtra. The Ghansoli site marks the project’s first undersea tunnel in Mumbai.
Work has been completed on the 5-km stretch of the safety tunnel constructed between Ghansoli and Shilphata.
The central government has promised competitive fares for the project, keeping the common man’s interests in mind.
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The Mumbai-Ahmedabad tunnel — estimated to complete in 2028 — is set to provide safe transport during rescue operations between the two cities.
The bullet train will pass through a 21-km stretch under the sea in Mumbai.
The project is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method and will comprise 12 railway stations along the corridor.
The project will have Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) as the only underground station.
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The Ghansoli site breakthrough was achieved using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method.
New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM): How does it work and what makes it better than traditional tunnelling techniques?
Developed in Austria around the mid 20th century, this method is a modern way of building tunnels that uses the natural strength of the surrounding rocks to keep the tunnel stable while drilling. This is especially in contrast with the conventional methods where manmade structures are used to ensure stability.
In the New Austrian method, tunnels are dug in small steps by adding support rapidly using a special sprayed concrete along with other material. This way, the soil or rock itself becomes part of the tunnel’s support system. Many experts find the method to be more efficient, as it reduces the need for thick linings and heavy steel supports, and is especially useful in difficult geological sites.
The New Austrian method is one of the world’s most widely used techniques for tunnelling, particularly for its flexibility and economy.
