What changed
2026-08-15 07:40 UTC → 2026-08-16 06:56 UTC ·
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June 2026 marked the third breakthrough in the mountain-tunnel chain and the fitting of pressure-relief hoods on all eight tunnels. The Surat-Vapi segment was confirmed for an August 2027 opening, beginning phased service on the 508-km corridor. In early July, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said roughly 80% of the line was complete and announced the start of underground tunnelling in Mumbai. Two German-built TBMs are boring a 20.37-km stretch that includes a 7-km under-sea section beneath Thane Creek, at 65 m depth, under Afcons Infrastructure with Japanese technical and financial support. The first operational stretch, Surat-Bilimora, is slated for inauguration in 2027, followed by successive phases covering Vapi-Surat, Vapi-Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad-Thane and the final Ahmedabad-Mumbai link. Mid-July, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected criticism from former Japanese minister Hideki Makihara, reiterating that construction is progressing rapidly and the full corridor is expected to operate in the early 2030s. Japan will supply E10-series trains and has provided signalling equipment to international standards. On 17 July, Indian and Japanese leaders reaffirmed that the Surat-Vapi section will open on schedule in August 2027, with services to start using an indigenously built high-speed train while Japan’s next-generation E10 Shinkansen is slated for delivery in the early 2030s. The ministry dismissed Makihara’s remarks as an individual opinion, confirming that signalling equipment meets global standards and that Japan remains the primary finisher, providing about 81% of project funding. By August 2026, officials clarified that the first 50-km segment between Surat and Bilimora is targeted for an August 15, 2027, launch. The full 508-km corridor, utilizing Japanese Shinkansen technology with speeds up to 320 km/h, is expected to be fully operational by 2029. As of mid-August 2026, major engineering works continue to advance. In Mumbai, the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station is being constructed 30 meters underground at a cost of ₹3,680 crore. Excavation also continues on the 7-kilometer undersea tunnel near Mumbai using advanced tunnel boring technology. Meanwhile, in Surat, structural work on the station is nearing completion, featuring designs inspired by the local diamond industry.