Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail tunnel breakthrough

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) celebrates a significant achievement as it marks the breakthrough of the mountain tunnel for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor project. This remarkable feat stands as the first completed mountain tunnel, achieved in a remarkably short span of just 10 months. Situated approximately 1 kilometre away from Zaroli Village in Umbergaon Taluka, within the Valsad district of Gujarat, this tunnel structure encompasses the tunnel itself, the tunnel portal, and other connecting elements such as the tunnel entrance hood. The construction of this tunnel employs the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), involving a systematic process that includes: 1. Marking of drill holes on the tunnel face. 2. Drilling of holes. 3. Charging of explosives. 4. Controlled blasting. 5. Removal of muck (blasted rock pieces). 6. Installation of primary support, encompassing steel ribs, lattice girder, shotcrete, and rock bolts, tailored to the type of rock as assessed by geologists after each blast. Salient Features of the Mountain Tunnel: - Total Tunnel Length: 350 meters. - Diameter of Tunnel: 12.6 meters. - Height of Tunnel: 10.25 meters. - Tunnel Shape: Single tube horse-shoe shaped. - Number of Tracks: 2 tracks. The completion of this mountain tunnel marks a significant step forward in the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, promising enhanced connectivity and convenience for passengers in the future. The NHSRCL continues to work diligently towards the realisation of this transformative railway network.