The first phase of Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train is likely to be in operation by the end of 2027 in Gujarat, according to the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project will eventually extend to Maharashtra, reports said.
“Trial runs are expected to start in 2026 between Surat and Bilimora (a 50-km stretch), an NHSRCL spokesperson told The Hindu. “Since the project is in a more advanced stage in Gujarat, it is prudent to start commercial operations here first and then expand services to Maharashtra as construction work gets completed,” the spokesperson added.
According to reports, 90 per cent of the 508-kilometer rail track is elevated. The corridor will have twelve stations: eight in Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Anand, Sabarmati, Vadodara, Bharuch, Vapi, Surat, and Bilimora) and four in Maharashtra (Virar, Thane, Boisar, and Mumbai). Additionally, plans are underway to commence service between Vadodara and Vapi by 2027.
Furthermore, the NHSRCL intends to complete the project in the second half of 2028. The service is anticipated to cut travel time between the two cities by three hours.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Vande Bharat is now the fastest train on the route, taking five and a half hours to complete the journey. The air travel takes around 95 minutes (1 hour and 35 minutes).
As of May 2024, there had been 44 per cent progress, with 53 per cent of the work finished in Gujarat and 25.6 per cent in Maharashtra. As of June, 183 kilometres of viaducts and 313 kilometres of piers had been built throughout the 508-kilometer length. Of the 1,390 hectares set aside for the project, 960 are in Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and 430 in Maharashtra. Also, land acquisition for the train line has been completed.
The initial timeframe for the bullet train project, which began in 2017, was December 2023. Due to land acquisition issues in Maharashtra and limits imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the timeline was revised.
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