Ashwini Vaishnaw Witnesses Final Bullet Train Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar, Maharashtra

Palaghar, Maharashtra | January 2,2026

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday (January 2, 2026) virtually witnessed the completion of the final 1.5-km mountain tunnel of India’s bullet train project in Palghar district, Maharashtra, from Rail Bhawan in New Delhi. The tunnel, located between Virar and Boisar stations, is among the longest in the district and marks a significant milestone for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project.

According to the Railway Ministry, this is the second tunnel breakthrough in Maharashtra, following the completion of a 5-km underground tunnel between Thane and BKC in September 2025. During the virtual event, Minister Vaishnaw celebrated the occasion by chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” highlighting the historic achievement in the nation’s first bullet train project.

The 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail, which passes through Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, is India’s only high-speed rail project designed to operate trains at 320 kmph, covering the journey in just 2 hours and 17 minutes. The project is being executed with technical and financial assistance from the Japanese government and represents a major leap in India’s modern rail infrastructure.