India’s first high-speed rail project, the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, has made further progress across viaduct construction, track work, electrification, bridges and tunnels, according to the latest update from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
The implementing agency reported that pier construction has been completed across 453 km of the corridor, while viaduct work has progressed over 359 km.
Track-related work has also advanced. Reinforced concrete track beds have been completed over 215 km, while track slabs have been installed along 91 km, with Cement Asphalt Mortar injection completed on the finished sections.
Electrification work is progressing alongside civil construction. More than 9,000 overhead equipment masts have been installed across 200 km to support the traction system that will supply power to the high-speed trains. Noise barriers have also been installed along 297 km of the alignment.
The project has so far seen the completion of 17 river bridges and 15 steel bridges. In Maharashtra, tunnel construction has also moved forward, with four mountain tunnels excavated and 5 km of tunnelling completed using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method.
The corridor will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad through 12 stations across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said the first 100-km operational stretch between Surat and Vapi is planned for August 2027, while the complete corridor is targeted for December 2029.
“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.
Trains will operate at speeds of up to 320 kmph. With four stops, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad journey is expected to take 1 hour 58 minutes, while services stopping at all 12 stations are expected to take 2 hours 17 minutes.
“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 is planned to open in phases before the entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad route becomes operational.
Source: Swarajya
