Bullet Train: 74 km of Piers Ready on Shilphata-Zaroli Stretch in Thane

Construction of India's first high-speed rail corridor is advancing across the 135.45-kilometre stretch from Shilphata in Thane to Zaroli on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border, with 74 kilometres of piers now completed and ready to receive viaduct girders. Work is actively underway on more than 100 kilometres of the elevated alignment across the Thane and Palghar districts.

The Maharashtra section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor covers 124.027 kilometres of viaducts and bridges. Construction is proceeding on three elevated stations planned at Thane, Virar, and Boisar. At the Thane station, the station concourse is being built approximately 12 metres above the natural ground level in order to preserve mangroves located in the surrounding eco-sensitive zone.

The project involves several technically complex engineering structures across challenging terrain. Three of the seven planned mountain tunnels in this section have achieved breakthrough. Following these breakthroughs, crews are now carrying out drainage, waterproofing, and concrete tunnel-lining work.

In total, the section will feature 36 bridges and crossings. This includes 12 steel bridges situated over major railway lines, the Mumbai-Nashik Highway, the Ulhas River, and other strategic points. Major river bridge construction is progressing across the Ulhas River spanning 460 metres, the Vaitarna River spanning 2.32 kilometres, and the Jagani River spanning 510 metres.

To support the construction effort across Maharashtra, nine casting yards, seven full-span launching gantries, and eight SBS launching gantries are currently operational. The ongoing operations mark a transition from initial foundation and pier work to the subsequent phase of placing viaduct girders along the corridor.