In a major update on India’s ambitious high-speed rail project, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the country’s first bullet train is expected to become operational by August 2027.
Speaking at the first-ever Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference held at Ganpat University in Mehsana, Vaishnaw said that the project was progressing rapidly, particularly in Gujarat, where major construction milestones have already been achieved.
“Work on the bullet train is advancing at a remarkable pace in Gujarat — wire ducts have been completed, girders are in place, and track and electrical installations are in progress. Following a recent site review by Japanese Minister Nakano, we are confident of commencing operations by August 2027,” the minister said.
Earlier this week, on October 3, Vaishnaw and Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Hiromasa Nakano jointly inspected project sites in Surat and Mumbai.
Project Overview
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor spans 508 kilometres and will connect 12 major stations, including Bandra Kurla Complex (Mumbai), Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand/Nadiad, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.
The ₹1.1-lakh crore project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2017 at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad.
According to the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), substantial progress has been made so far:
- 323 km of viaduct and 399 km of pier construction completed
- 17 river bridges, 5 PSC bridges, and 9 steel bridges erected
- 211 km of track bed prepared
- Over 4 lakh noise barriers installed
- Excavation of 7 mountain tunnels in Palghar underway
- 5 km of the 21-km NATM tunnel between Bandra Kurla Complex and Shilphata completed
Construction of rolling stock depots at Surat and Ahmedabad is ongoing, with superstructure work at Gujarat’s stations nearing completion. Work has also begun on the three elevated stations in Maharashtra.
Gujarat’s Rail and Industrial Growth
Highlighting Gujarat’s infrastructure achievements, Vaishnaw said the state’s rapid progress made it the ideal choice for India’s first bullet train project.
“In the past 11 years, Gujarat has added 2,764 km of new railway lines — more than the total rail network of Denmark,” he said.
The minister added that Gujarat has attracted ₹1.46 lakh crore in rail investments and is also emerging as a hub for semiconductors and electronics, with ₹1.25 lakh crore invested in the semiconductor sector alone and four major plants under development.
He noted that India’s electronics manufacturing industry has expanded to ₹12 lakh crore in the last decade, reflecting the country’s growing technological and industrial capabilities.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com