January 15, 2026: India’s first high-speed rail project connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad has crossed a significant construction milestone, with large portions of its elevated infrastructure now nearing completion. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the implementing agency for the Rs 1.08 lakh crore project, has reported substantial progress across multiple components of the 508-km corridor.
The bullet train alignment stretches across Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Maharashtra, with about 352 km located in Gujarat and the Union Territory, and the remaining 156 km passing through Maharashtra. According to the latest update, elevated civil construction has gained momentum, with 332 km of viaduct work and 415 km of pier construction already completed. These structures form the backbone of the high-speed corridor and are critical for maintaining design speeds while minimising land acquisition and surface disruption.
Bridge construction has also advanced steadily. A total of 17 river bridges have been completed, along with five pre-stressed concrete bridges and 12 steel bridges, strengthening connectivity across natural and man-made obstacles along the route. To address concerns in densely populated areas, extensive noise mitigation measures are being implemented. Over 4.9 lakh noise barriers have been installed across 245 km of the alignment, while around 4,800 overhead equipment masts have been erected, covering roughly 111 km of the mainline viaduct.
Tunnelling activities in Maharashtra have recorded notable progress. In Palghar district, the first of seven planned mountain tunnels has achieved breakthrough, with excavation continuing on the remaining tunnels. Separately, work on the 21-km tunnel between Bandra Kurla Complex and Shilphata is progressing, with about 5 km excavated using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method.
Parallel efforts are underway on station and depot infrastructure. Rolling stock depots at Surat and Ahmedabad are under construction, while superstructure work at all bullet train stations in Gujarat is at an advanced stage. In Maharashtra, construction has begun at all three elevated stations, and base slab casting is currently underway at the underground Mumbai station, signalling steady progress towards operational readiness.
