Construction of India’s first high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has achieved significant progress, with 352 kilometres of viaduct construction and 446 kilometres of pier work now completed, according to the latest project update released by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for May 2026.
The 508-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor, being developed using Japanese Shinkansen technology, is steadily advancing across multiple components, including elevated structures, tunnels, bridges, track systems and electrification works.
As per NHSRCL, noise barriers have already been installed along 291 kilometres of elevated sections. The corridor will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad through 12 stations spread across Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Nearly 90% of the route is being developed as an elevated corridor, while the remaining sections comprise tunnels, bridges and station infrastructure.
Track construction has also gathered pace, with 193 route kilometres of reinforced concrete track bed completed so far. Additionally, track slab installation with CAM injection has been finished across 78 route kilometres.
Electrification work is progressing simultaneously, with more than 8,200 overhead equipment masts installed along 185 route kilometres to support the planned 2×25 kV traction system.
Bridge construction has recorded steady advancement as well. NHSRCL has completed 17 river bridges and 14 steel bridges out of the planned 25 river bridges and 28 steel bridges across the corridor.
Tunnel works continue in both Maharashtra and Gujarat. Four mountain tunnels have been completed, while approximately 5 kilometres of NATM tunnel excavation has been finished. The project includes eight mountain tunnels, seven of which are located in Palghar district of Maharashtra and one in Gujarat’s Valsad district.
One of the most complex components remains the 21-kilometre Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC)-Shilphata tunnel, which includes India’s first undersea rail tunnel beneath Thane Creek, stretching around 7 kilometres.
Earlier, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the first operational bullet train service will begin on the 100-kilometre Surat-Vapi section in August 2027.
“A significant milestone is that the bullet train will cover the distance between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in just 1 hour 58 minutes upon the completion of the high-speed rail corridor. The inaugural run in August 2027 will cover 100 km between Surat and Vapi,” Vaishaw said.
“The bullet train will cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in 1 hour 58 minutes with four stops. However, if it halts at all 12 stations, the total journey time will be 2 hours 17 minutes,” Vaishnaw said.
The corridor will be commissioned in phases, with the complete Mumbai-Ahmedabad route expected to become operational by December 2029.
Source: Swarajya
