Bullet train project achieves first mountain tunnel breakthrough in Palghar, Maharashtra
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project achieved the breakthrough of its first mountain tunnel in Maharashtra, the 1.5 km MT-5 in Palghar, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on 2 January 2026.
Summary
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project achieved the breakthrough of MT-5, an approximately 1.5 km mountain tunnel in Palghar and the first mountain tunnel of the project in Maharashtra, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on 2 January 2026. MT-5 was excavated from both ends in 18 months using the drill and blast method, after the first underground tunnel of about 5 km between Thane and BKC was completed in September 2025. The 508 km corridor (352 km in Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, 156 km in Maharashtra) has 27.4 km of tunnels, including eight mountain tunnels, and is expected to cut Mumbai–Ahmedabad travel time to 1 hour 58 minutes.
Key facts
- Tunnel
- MT-5, ~1.5 km, Palghar — first mountain tunnel in Maharashtra
- Method
- Drill and blast; excavated from both ends in 18 months
- Earlier
- ~5 km Thane–BKC underground tunnel, September 2025
- Corridor
- 508 km: 352 km Gujarat & DNH, 156 km Maharashtra
- Tunnels
- 27.4 km total (21 km underground, 6.4 km surface); 8 mountain tunnels
- Travel time
- Mumbai–Ahmedabad in 1 hour 58 minutes
Practice MCQs 3 questions
In which district of Maharashtra did the bullet train project achieve its first mountain tunnel breakthrough (MT-5) in January 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Palghar
PIB (Railways): the breakthrough of the ~1.5 km MT-5 mountain tunnel was achieved in Palghar, Maharashtra.
According to the Railways Ministry (January 2026), what will be the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad once the bullet train project is complete?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1 hour 58 minutes
PIB (Railways): the project will reduce Mumbai–Ahmedabad travel time to just 1 hour and 58 minutes.
Consider the following statements about the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor, as given by the Railways Ministry in January 2026: 1. The corridor is about 508 km long, of which 156 km lies in Maharashtra. 2. The project has eight mountain tunnels. 3. The first underground tunnel, between Thane and BKC, was completed in September 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
PIB (Railways): the 508 km corridor has 156 km in Maharashtra and 352 km in Gujarat and DNH; it has eight mountain tunnels; and the ~5 km Thane–BKC underground tunnel was completed in September 2025. All three are correct.