India's first indigenously built bullet train is expected to roll onto the tracks for testing by May or June next year, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said, offering one of the clearest timelines yet on when the country's high-speed rail project could move closer to commercial operations.

The testing phase is expected to last between two and four months, following which the bullet train will be inaugurated, according to the Railway Minister.

Speaking at the 'NaMo for Viksit Bharat' event in Vadodara on Tuesday, Vaishnaw said the first body frame of India's own bullet train had recently been completed and sent for a squeeze test.

“By May or June of next year, India’s own bullet train will be on the tracks for testing. After a testing period of 2-4 months, the bullet train will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister himself,” he said.

First test coach ready as manufacturing gathers pace

The latest announcement comes amid rapid progress in the manufacturing of India's first high-speed train.

Vaishnaw had earlier said that the first coach for testing had already been manufactured, while work was progressing simultaneously on the railway infrastructure required for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor.

Civil construction on the Vapi-Surat section is expected to be completed by December this year. The Surat-Bilimora stretch, meanwhile, has been targeted for commissioning next year.

The Railway Minister said the bullet train project was being developed in line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, with India moving towards building its own high-speed rail technology and infrastructure.

Vadodara to Mumbai in around 90 minutes

One of the biggest changes the bullet train promises is a sharp reduction in travel time between major cities.

According to Vaishnaw, passengers travelling from Vadodara to Mumbai on the bullet train will be able to complete the journey in around one-and-a-half hours.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project is India's first bullet train corridor and is among the country's most ambitious railway infrastructure projects.

The 508-km corridor will pass through Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, connecting Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

When will India's bullet train start?

While testing is now expected to begin by May or June next year, the first high-speed rail service on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is expected to commence in August 2027.

The project has been progressing in phases, with construction and train manufacturing taking place simultaneously across key sections.

The foundation stone for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor was laid in September 2017, marking India's entry into the high-speed rail era.

Indian Railways undergoing wider transformation

Beyond the bullet train project, Vaishnaw said Indian Railways was undergoing a wider transformation, ranging from operating and reservation systems to construction methods.

He also highlighted new wagon designs, including specialised wagons for transporting salt, as part of efforts to modernise freight operations.

According to the minister, 280 railway stations have been redeveloped and 36,000 km of new tracks have been developed. He also said cargo trains using Vande Bharat technology were being completed.

Vaishnaw pointed to the completion of long-pending projects, including the Chenab Bridge and the railway connectivity project linking Mizoram to the national railway network.

With the first indigenous bullet train now moving towards track testing, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project is entering a crucial phase.

For passengers waiting to see India's first bullet train in action, the coming months could offer the clearest picture yet of how close the country is to the start of high-speed rail travel.

With ANI inputs