Construction work on a mountain tunnel for the C4 package of India’s Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor is currently underway. It is being built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM).

The C4 package covers the design and construction of a 237-km-long viaduct between Vapi and Vadodara in the state of Gujarat, including four stations – Vapi, Bilimora, Surat and Bharuch – and the Surat Depot.

The mountain tunnel is located about 1 km away from Zaroli Village of Umbergaon Taluka in Valsad district. It has a total length of 350 m, height of 10.25 m and diameter of 12.6 m. This single-tube tunnel comprises two tracks.

According to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the MAHSR corridor will have seven mountain tunnels in total, which will be built using the NATM method.

Image: NHSRCL