The railway ministry on Saturday postponed the formal launch of tunnel-boring work for the bullet train project in Mumbai due to inclement weather, and told authorities to commence the work immediately.

Ministry officials said it has been raining in Mumbai for the past few days, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued ‘red’ and ‘orange’ alerts for the next couple of days.

“Considering the adverse weather conditions, we have decided to postpone the formal launch by the Hon’ble Railway Minister of the underground tunnel boring work using tunnel boring machines for the first time on the bullet train project,” a senior official said.

“However, we have asked the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) to start the work immediately without the official launch so that the project is not delayed,” the official added.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was scheduled to inaugurate the underground tunnel-boring work from Vikhroli to the Bandra Kurla Complex station in Mumbai on Sunday, marking the maiden use of a tunnel boring machine for the country’s first bullet train project, between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

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