Undersea high-speed rail tunnel nears completion

January 28, 2025 / Kevin harson /

India is nearing the completion on its first undersea high-speed rail project after eight years of construction.

The underwater segment of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project is set to finish being built in the next few months, bringing the rail system one step closer to coming online.

Newsweek contacted India’s National High Speed Rail Corporation for comment via email.

Why It Matters

India’s breakthrough comes at a critical time for high-speed rail advances across the world. Southeast Asia has led the international community in rail infrastructure, with China, Japan, Vietnam and the Korean Peninsula all investing heavily in high-speed rail.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad project is India’s most prominent infrastructure project, and it’s a chance for the nation to catch up with its neighbors.

What to Know

The undersea rail tunnel, part of a 21-kilometer (13-mile) underground stretch, is being constructed between the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai and Shilphata in Maharashtra.

Engineered to endure the high-pressure conditions of the marine environment, the tunnel will link seamlessly with the larger Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, a high-speed rail project aimed at enhancing connectivity between two of India’s most important economic hubs.

A bridge crossing NH-48 in Gujarat is completed for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.

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With the bullet trains expected to reach speeds of up to 320 kilometers an hour (199 mph), the project will slash travel times dramatically, providing commuters with a quick and efficient alternative to existing modes of transport.

By drastically reducing the travel time between two of India’s most important urban areas, the rail system hopes to provide a boost for businesses, foster tourism and promote regional trade.

The construction phase has generated thousands of jobs, while the long-term operation of the rail system promises to sustain employment and create ancillary industries. It was first launched in 2017, with the goal of being partly operational by 2026.

What People Are Saying

In a statement on the construction process, the National High Speed Rail Corporation said: “A 21 km long India’s first underground/undersea tunnel is under construction between Mumbai bullet train underground station at Bandra-Kurla Complex and Shilphata in the State of Maharashtra.

“Out of 21 km of tunnelling works, 16 km is through Tunnel Boring Machines and remaining 5 km is through NATM. This also includes 7 km of undersea tunnel at Thane creek.”