Overview
- MT-6 broke through in Palghar on February 3 after 12 months of excavation using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, creating a 454 m by 14.4 m twin-track passage.
- This is the second mountain-tunnel breakthrough in a month after MT-5 on January 2 and the third tunnel breakthrough on the corridor since the first at Ghansoli in September 2025.
- Seven mountain tunnels are under construction in Palghar, with MT-5 at about 57% and MT-6 at about 47% progress as of January 27, according to project officials.
- NHSRCL reports about 334 km of viaducts, 17 river bridges and 12 major crossings completed, with track laying and electrification advancing in Gujarat and major bridge and station works ongoing in Maharashtra.
- An NHSRCL official said parts for the first of three TBMs for the 21 km BKC–Shilphata tunnel are roughly 60% received while two TBMs remain held at Chinese ports, potentially affecting phased commissioning plans including the Surat–Bilimora target for August 15, 2027 and full corridor completion by December 2029.