Bullet train construction advances with new viaducts and stations in Maharashtra

India's inaugural bullet-train corridor is moving from planning to physical construction, as Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced recent milestones. The 135.45-km elevated portion runs from Shilphata in Thane district to Zaroli village on the Maharashtra-Gujarat frontier, with the majority of the route built on viaducts and bridges. Over 100 km of pier foundations are currently being installed, while roughly 74 km of finished piers await viaduct girders.

Three elevated stations—Thane, Virar and Boisar—are being erected, with the Thane station raised 12 metres to safeguard nearby mangroves. Tunnel work is advancing, with three of seven planned mountain tunnels having achieved breakthrough and now undergoing drainage and waterproofing. Major bridge projects include a 460-metre span over the Ulhas River, a 2.32-km crossing of the Vaitarna River, and a 510-metre bridge over the Jagani River, contributing to a total of 36 bridges and crossings on the segment.