The Union Railways Minister confirmed that India’s first bullet train said the 50 km Surat-Bilimora stretch is set to open by 2027, with advanced safety tech and high-speed connectivity promising to cut travel time to just over two hours
Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspects the ongoing development works at Surat Bullet Train Station, in Gujarat. PIC/PTI
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said that the much-anticipated Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train is set to be operational by 2029, news agency IANS reported. He further highlighted that the 50 km stretch of India’s first high-speed rail corridor between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat is expected to be opened by 2027.
Vaishnaw inspected the under-construction Surat station, including the track-installation work and the first turnout. He said that commuters will be able to cover the distance between the two cities in just two hours and seven minutes on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train. The current travel time is around nine hours, as shown on Google Maps.
Throwing more putting on the project, the minister said, “Overall progress of the first bullet train project is very good. The first 50 km section between Surat and Bilimora will be open by 2027. By 2028, the Thane-Ahmedabad section will be commissioned, and by 2029, the full Mumbai-Ahmedabad line will open."
Vaishnaw also highlighted the use of modern technology to ensure safety, including vibration absorption mechanisms along the track and special safety features to handle high winds and earthquakes, IANS reported.
He further emphasised that heavy construction work at Surat station is almost complete and stated that finishing and utility work is currently ongoing alongside track linking and is expected to be concluded soon.
The first turnout, where tracks converge or diverge, has been installed with advanced technologies, including roller bearings and composite sleepers, IANS reported.
Earlier, while highlighting the positive prospects of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, Vaishnaw said, “The main line is designed for speeds up to 320 kilometres per hour, while the loop line will operate at 80 kilometres per hour. The services are designed such that a train will depart every half an hour during the morning and evening peak hours. Once the entire network stabilises, there will be a train every 10 minutes during peak hours.”
The project is expected to integrate the economies of major cities along the corridor and spur regional growth, similar to Japan’s growth story after its high-speed rail.
The 508 km-long Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is India's first bullet train project. The Union Railways Minister also indicated plans for four additional bullet train corridors in other regions of the country, as outlined in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto.
(With inputs from IANS)
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