Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Update: BKC Underground Station 75% Complete, Work Accelerates

Mumbai's Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), known for its tall office buildings and busy streets, is quietly becoming home to one of India's most ambitious transport projects - a high-speed underground rail station. This station is part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, also known as the bullet train project, which aims to cut travel time between the two cities to just about two hours, as per a Times Now report.

What's Happening Beneath BKC?

According to the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), about 75 per cent of the groundwork at the BKC station site has already been completed. This includes the removal of around 14 lakh cubic metres of soil - a huge task in itself. The construction of the station's foundation is now in full swing. So far, 25,000 cubic metres of concrete have been laid for the base slab. In total, approximately 2 lakh cubic metres of concrete will be required just for this portion of the work.

The Underground Journey Begins

Once completed, the bullet train will leave from BKC and travel underground for 21 kilometres up to Shilphata. Out of this stretch, 16 kilometres will be built using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), which are large machines designed to slowly and steadily dig tunnels through soil and rock.

The remaining 5 kilometres will be constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which is particularly effective in difficult or uneven ground conditions such as hills or loose soil.

Multiple Digging Points In Action

At present, tunnel work is happening at three main points - Shilphata and two locations called ADIT portals. These portals will not only help with construction but will also serve as emergency exits and maintenance routes once the tunnel becomes operational.

Additionally, two deep vertical shafts have been completed at Vikhroli and Sawali. The shaft at Vikhroli goes 56 metres deep, while the one at Sawali reaches down to 39 metres.

A New Chapter For Urban Transport

Once finished, the bullet train will significantly improve connectivity between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The station at BKC will act as a crucial starting point for this high-speed journey. Though all the work is happening quietly below the ground, this project is expected to change how people travel between the two major cities in the near future.

The underground station and tunnels mark a new milestone in India's journey towards modern and faster transportation.