According to Business-Today, India's first bullet train corridor has moved decisively from plans to physical structures, with nearly 74 km of viaduct piers already completed on the 135.45-km elevated section between Shilphata in Thane district and Zaroli village on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said in an official release.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday shared a glimpse of the work taking shape across Thane and Palghar, calling it, "a whole new vibe!" The release said the progress reflects the engineering work behind the project under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision and the railway minister's drive to expand next-generation railway infrastructure.
Construction milestones on the elevated section
The 135.45-km stretch from Shilphata to Zaroli village cuts through varied terrain, with 124.027 km comprising viaducts and bridges, NHSRCL said. Construction is at different stages along the alignment:
- Pier work is underway across more than 100 km of the section.
- Nearly 74 km of piers have been completed and are ready for viaduct girders.
- Work is supported by nine casting yards, seven full-span launching gantries and eight SBS launching gantries, all currently operational in Maharashtra.
| Component | Status / Details |
|---|---|
| Elevated section length | 135.45 km (Shilphata to Zaroli) |
| Viaducts and bridges | 124.027 km of the section |
| Piers completed | Nearly 74 km, ready for viaduct girders |
| Pier work underway | Over 100 km of the stretch |
| Casting yards | Nine, operational in Maharashtra |
| Launching gantries | Seven full-span + eight SBS, operational |
| Elevated stations | Thane, Virar and Boisar |
| Mountain tunnels | Seven planned; three achieved breakthrough |
| Total bridges/crossings | 36, including 12 steel bridges |
| Major river bridges | Ulhas River (460 m), Vaitarna River (2.32 km), Jagani River (510 m) |
Bridges and stations along the corridor
Three elevated stations are coming up along the stretch: Thane, Virar and Boisar. The Thane station has a concourse level around 12 metres above natural ground level, a design aimed at protecting and preserving local mangroves in the eco-sensitive zone, according to the release.
Bridge engineering is a key part of the program. The section includes a 460-metre bridge over the Ulhas River, a 2.32-km bridge over the Vaitarna River and a 510-metre bridge over the Jagani River. In total, the section will have 36 bridges and crossings, including 12 steel bridges over major railway lines, the Mumbai-Nashik Highway and the Ulhas River.
Tunnels are also progressing. Of the seven planned mountain tunnels on the section, three have already achieved breakthrough, with drainage, waterproofing and lining work now underway, NHSRCL said.
What the update means for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor
For logistics managers and freight operators tracking infrastructure development along the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor, the NHSRCL update confirms that the high-speed rail project is in an active, large-scale construction phase. The deployment of nine casting yards and 15 launching gantries in Maharashtra indicates a concentrated civil engineering effort across the elevated alignment.
The scale of elevated construction — more than 124 km of viaducts and bridges out of a 135.45-km section — means the corridor will be substantially grade-separated, spanning roadways, rivers and rail lines. The 12 steel bridges over major railway lines, the Mumbai-Nashik Highway and the Ulhas River point to multiple interface points with existing transport infrastructure, according to the release.
The project is a passenger high-speed rail link, and the NHSRCL release focuses on the civil engineering milestones rather than freight operations. However, the progress on India's first bullet train corridor is a signal of sustained investment in rail infrastructure along one of the country's busiest industrial and logistics routes.
Watch list
- Completion of the remaining four mountain tunnels, after three breakthroughs already achieved.
- Installation of viaduct girders on the nearly 74 km of piers completed and ready.
- Further bridge works over the Ulhas, Vaitarna and Jagani rivers.
- Thane, Virar and Boisar elevated stations construction progress, including the mangrove-protective design at Thane.
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