India’s maiden bullet train project is very much on the right track for phased commencement from August 15, 2027. This is as per the latest announcement by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who further specified a clear timeline to roll out the country’s first ever high-speed rail service.On the timeline, Vaishnaw said, “the bullet train would be ready in 2027 August 15, 2027.” He said the Surat–Bilimora section will be a part of the first operation phase which will mark India’s first experience with bullet trains. This update was shared through ANI.
Detailing how services will be extended following its initial roll-out, the Minister said, “The first section to open will be from Surat to Bilimora. After that, Vapi to Surat will open. Then Vapi to Ahmedabad will open, and after that, Thane to Ahmedabad will open, and then Mumbai to Ahmedabad will open.” The phased rollout is intended to gradually expand high-speed service as construction landmarks are completed along the corridor. Vaishnaw has also informed that the first run may be over a longer length, than originally planned. He had said in his address to reporters earlier, “The bullet train will have its inaugural run from Ahmedabad to Vapi in 2027 August. With this, it will cover a distance of 100 kilometres.” Partial operations will commence in 2027, but “the full length from Ahmedabad to Mumbai will start from 2029,” he said.Read more: Skip the crowds in 2026: 10 offbeat destinations in India for New Year travelCutting travelling time drastically, once operational, the 508-km, Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor will connect these two cities. According to the minister, “The 508-km distance between the two cities will be covered in 1 hour and 58 minutes,” with trains designed to operate at speeds of up to 320 kmph.The announcement followed a site visit to Surat by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the status of the project. After the inspection, Vaishnaw said the Prime Minister was “very delighted” with the speed of construction. The Railways Ministry had in the past proposed to start the bullet train on a small 50-km stretch of Surat-Bilimora, before upgrading the plan due to quick pace. The ministry had earlier decided to start operations on the longer Ahmedabad–Vapi section, as reported earlier. Construction updates shared by railway officials indicate substantial progress on the ground. As of mid-November, 329 kilometres of viaduct and 404 kilometres of pier work had been completed. Around 3,100 overhead electrification masts have been installed, covering roughly 75 kilometres of the mainline viaduct. Tunnel excavation is ongoing in Palghar district, including the 21-kilometre underground tunnel between Mumbai’s BKC and Shilphata, where five kilometres have already been excavated. Work on rolling stock depots at Surat and Ahmedabad and station construction across Gujarat and Mumbai is also advancing.With phased operations set to begin in 2027 and full completion targeted for 2029, the bullet train project is entering a decisive phase in India’s rail infrastructure journey.
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