A photograph of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has been displayed inside the Railway Ministry, showing ongoing progress on India’s bullet train corridor. The image of the proposed bullet train has been placed near Gate Number 4 of the ministry building.

Media agencies ANI, PTI and IANS on Monday shared visuals of India’s first proposed bullet train, which has been widely anticipated.

The 508-km MAHSR project is being implemented with technical and financial assistance from the Government of Japan. It is currently under execution across Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with 12 stations planned along the route: Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

Station and bridge construction progress

The Railway Ministry has expressed confidence that India’s first bullet train service may begin between Surat and Bilimora this year.

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament in February that foundation work has been completed at 8 of the 12 stations — Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

Seventeen river bridges have been completed, while work is at an advanced stage on four major river bridges over the Narmada, Mahi, Tapti and Sabarmati in Gujarat. In Maharashtra, work is ongoing on four river bridges. Depot construction at Thane, Surat and Sabarmati is also progressing. 

Civil works at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) are continuing steadily. Excavation work has reached about 91 per cent completion, while concreting is at different stages. The basement slab at Level-4 has been fully completed.

Tunnel work, manufacturing push and project capacity

Work on the under-sea tunnel of approximately 21 km has commenced. Of this, 4.8 km of tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra has been completed," the minister said.

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The minister added that experience and technical capabilities being developed through the MAHSR project — including track construction, advanced signalling, rolling stock manufacturing and maintenance, and project management — are expected to support future high-speed rail corridors in the country.

In line with the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, Indian Railways is promoting indigenous manufacturing of high-speed rail systems and components. Building on Vande Bharat trains, Integral Coach Factory (ICF), in collaboration with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), is designing and manufacturing high-speed train sets with a design speed of 280 kmph.

Land acquisition has been carried out under applicable laws, with compensation provided under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, along with relevant state policies. Rehabilitation and resettlement measures, including additional benefits and solatium, have been implemented in coordination with state governments.

The MAHSR corridor is designed for high-frequency operations with substantial passenger-carrying capacity.