The Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR), India’s first bullet train project, is a testament to the country’s rapid progress in infrastructure development. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is spearheading this ambitious project, which is set to redefine the future of rail travel in India.
Pioneering a New Age of Transportation
The MAHSR is a pioneering project that marks the advent of high-speed rail travel in India. The Ministry of Railways has set an ambitious target to make the priority corridor operational by 2026. The 508-km-long corridor will feature 12 stations, 24 river bridges, 8 mountain tunnels, and an undersea tunnel, offering a seamless and efficient travel experience.
Catalyzing Growth in the Construction Sector
The bullet train project is acting as a catalyst for growth in the construction and cement industry. It has generated a plethora of employment opportunities and has been instrumental in skill development. The NHSRCL has embraced cutting-edge construction technology for this mega project.
Every day, the project utilizes around 20,000 cubic meters of concrete, equivalent to the construction of 8 ten-storey buildings. As of June 12, approximately 78 lakh cubic meters of concreting work has been accomplished using 13 lakh large transit mixers. This massive undertaking has been made possible by the relentless efforts of about 20,000 workers each day for the past two and a half years. To facilitate this colossal task, 65 specially designed and manufactured concrete batching plants have been established along the corridor.
Engineering Feats: Tunnelling and Undersea Passage
The NHSRCL achieved a significant milestone last month by excavating a 394-meter-long Additionally Driven Intermediate Tunnel at Ghansoli. This achievement will expedite the construction of a 21 km long tunnel between BKC and Shilphata in Maharashtra. The 26-meter-deep inclined ADIT will aid in the construction of the 3.3 km (approx.) tunnel through the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), allowing for simultaneous tunnelling of approximately 1.6 meters on each side. Of the 21 km of tunnelling works, 16 km is being done through Tunnel Boring Machines, and the remaining 5 km is through NATM.
The construction of a 21 km (approx.) long tunnel from the Mumbai Bullet Train station to Shilphata in Maharashtra is progressing rapidly. A unique feature of this tunnel is the 7 km (approx.) stretch that will be under the sea at Thane Creek (Intertidal zone), marking the first undersea tunnel in the country.
The MAHSR project is a shining example of India’s commitment to infrastructure development and technological advancement. It symbolizes the country’s engineering capabilities and its dedication to sustainable and inclusive growth.
