+
Zaroli Mountain Tunnel Nears Completion on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Zaroli Mountain Tunnel Nears Completion on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train

The Zaroli mountain tunnel, a crucial part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, is nearing completion, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) announced. NHSRCL is the implementing agency for the 508-kilometre bullet train project connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Located about one kilometre from Zaroli village in Umbergaon taluka of Gujarat’s Valsad district, this tunnel is the first and only mountain tunnel constructed in Gujarat as part of the MAHSR project. Measuring 350 metres in length, it features a single horseshoe-shaped tube with a cross-sectional diameter of 12.6 metres and a height of 10.25 metres.

The tunnel was constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which involved drilling, controlled blasting, muck removal, and structural support with shotcrete, steel ribs, lattice girders, and rock bolts. Despite complex geological conditions, the breakthrough was achieved in October 2023, just ten months after excavation began.

Designed to house twin Shinkansen-style tracks, the tunnel will enable trains to travel at speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour. Precise alignment and geometry were essential to meet the high-speed operational requirements.

Zaroli is the first of eight mountain tunnels planned on the MAHSR route. While Zaroli lies in Gujarat, the other seven tunnels are located in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. This includes a 21-kilometre underground segment with India’s first undersea rail tunnel beneath Thane Creek.

Significant progress has been made across the entire 508-kilometre corridor. Over 304 km of viaduct and 388 km of pier work have been completed, alongside 15 river bridges, eight steel bridges, and five pre-stressed concrete (PSC) bridges. Approximately 163 track kilometres of track bed construction have also been finalised.

Recently, NHSRCL launched the first full-span 40-metre Pre-Stressed Concrete (PSC) Box Girder at Sakhare Village, Dahanu, in Maharashtra’s section of the corridor.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project will pass through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli. The corridor includes 12 planned stations at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.

The Zaroli mountain tunnel, a crucial part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, is nearing completion, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) announced. NHSRCL is the implementing agency for the 508-kilometre bullet train project connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad.Located about one kilometre from Zaroli village in Umbergaon taluka of Gujarat’s Valsad district, this tunnel is the first and only mountain tunnel constructed in Gujarat as part of the MAHSR project. Measuring 350 metres in length, it features a single horseshoe-shaped tube with a cross-sectional diameter of 12.6 metres and a height of 10.25 metres.The tunnel was constructed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which involved drilling, controlled blasting, muck removal, and structural support with shotcrete, steel ribs, lattice girders, and rock bolts. Despite complex geological conditions, the breakthrough was achieved in October 2023, just ten months after excavation began.Designed to house twin Shinkansen-style tracks, the tunnel will enable trains to travel at speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour. Precise alignment and geometry were essential to meet the high-speed operational requirements.Zaroli is the first of eight mountain tunnels planned on the MAHSR route. While Zaroli lies in Gujarat, the other seven tunnels are located in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. This includes a 21-kilometre underground segment with India’s first undersea rail tunnel beneath Thane Creek.Significant progress has been made across the entire 508-kilometre corridor. Over 304 km of viaduct and 388 km of pier work have been completed, alongside 15 river bridges, eight steel bridges, and five pre-stressed concrete (PSC) bridges. Approximately 163 track kilometres of track bed construction have also been finalised.Recently, NHSRCL launched the first full-span 40-metre Pre-Stressed Concrete (PSC) Box Girder at Sakhare Village, Dahanu, in Maharashtra’s section of the corridor.The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project will pass through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli. The corridor includes 12 planned stations at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.

Next Story
Real Estate

No glass boxes!

India is moving away from the ‘glass box’ syndrome, all-glass façades that were widely used in commercial buildings in the last two decades but came at a significant environmental cost given the country’s predominantly hot and humid climate. Poor thermal performance, excessive heat gain and dependency on mechanical cooling systems made buildings with glass façades energy guzzlers and significantly increased their carbon footprint.That said, it’s important to be aware that “glass is not the enemy,” points out Heena Bhargava, Architect, Architecture Discipline. “How it ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Why do pavements fail?

India’s highways continue to expand at a healthy pace. But conversations on the surface quality of highways are growing louder because major deficiencies and black spots continue to be identified, and they are cause for concern.“Road surface roughness causes vehicle vibrations that, in turn, can affect the performance of drivers,” explains Dr V K Gahlot, Road Safety Auditor, Centre for Research and Sustainable Development (CfRSD). “Continuous exposure may induce fatigue, a contributory factor to road accidents. Road surface roughness also affects the vehicle operating cost...

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

APAC Logistics Rents Fall for First Time Since 2020

Logistics rents across the Asia-Pacific region declined 0.4% year-on-year in H1 2025, marking the first annual drop since 2020, according to Knight Frank’s Logistics Highlights H1 2025 report. Despite global trade tensions and cautious occupier sentiment, India emerged as a standout performer, driven by robust manufacturing momentum and supply chain recalibration.Regional Trends and DivergenceWhile rents largely remained stable across most markets, regional differences became more pronounced:Mainland China continued to see rental declines, though the pace of decline moderated to 12.8% YoY, s..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?