Overview

• Engineers completed a 4.88–4.9 km NATM tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata, creating a continuous section within the 21 km underground stretch that includes a 7 km segment under Thane Creek.
• The first Herrenknecht TBMs are en route on the vessel Chipol Xiongan and are expected at JNPA around September 23–24 for customs clearance before excavating the remaining ~16 km via shafts at BKC, Vikhroli and Sawli.
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw affirmed a phased launch target of Surat–Bilimora in December 2027, extension to Thane in 2028, and full run to Mumbai’s BKC in 2029, with peak headways tightening from 30 to 10 minutes as operations stabilize.
• India and Japan agreed to deploy next‑generation Shinkansen E‑10 trains on the corridor, and officials clarified that Vande Bharat sets will not operate on this high‑speed line; Indian crews are training in Japan on Shinkansen systems.
• Civil works continue to advance with about 321 km of viaduct and 398 km of piers completed plus over four lakh noise barriers and 206 km of trackbed, while station construction and OHE mast installation progress across the route.