The ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train work has been kickstarted in Maharashtra's Palghar and Thane districts, which are a part of the 508-km-long high-speed rail corridor. On April 9, National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) announced that the work has commenced as part of Package-C3, extending from Shilphata to Zaroli village on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. It is estimated that the first phase of the project, connecting Surat to Bilimora, will be operational by August 2026.

Progress report: 

Spanning across 135.45, Package-C3 is a section of the bullet train corridor that comprises of viaducts and bridges covering 24.027 km and earth structures spanning for 5.361 km. It also includes the construction of 36 bridges and crossings, including 12 steel bridges. Moreover, the project features six mountain tunnels and one cut-and-cover tunnel, as well as crucial river crossings over the Ulhas, Vaitarna, and Jagani rivers.

Geotechnical investigation for the entire 135 km stretch is nearing completion, while construction activities for two mountain tunnels have already begun in the region. Additionally, pier foundation work has commenced at multiple locations along the corridor.