India's Mumbai‑Ahmedabad Bullet Train Gets First Tunnel Hood Technology

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has begun installing tunnel hoods on the Mumbai‑Ahmedabad high‑speed rail corridor, marking the first use of this technology on Indian railway tunnels. The hoods are being fitted at both portals of eight mountain tunnels – seven in Maharashtra and one in Gujarat – to manage pressure waves generated by trains travelling above 300 km/h.

Tunnel hoods act as transition zones that allow air to enter and exit gradually, reducing the “tunnel boom” noise when a train exits a tunnel. Designed with pressure‑relief vents and windows, they aim to minimise acoustic disturbance to nearby communities and improve aerodynamic performance, supporting smoother, quieter and safer high‑speed operations.

The 508‑km Mumbai‑Ahmedabad corridor, scheduled for completion by August 2027, is part of India’s broader high‑speed rail push, which also includes planned Delhi‑Varanasi, Delhi‑Ahmedabad, Delhi‑Amritsar‑Jammu and Delhi‑Siliguri corridors. The tunnel‑hood installation reflects the adoption of international best practices for the country’s emerging bullet‑train network.