Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Speeds Up Development

Significant strides have been made in the development of India's inaugural high-speed bullet train, designed to enhance travel efficiency between Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Mumbai (Maharashtra) at a remarkable speed of 320 km/h, spanning a distance of 508 km.

The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) is spearheading this groundbreaking project, targeting the commencement of services between Ahmedabad (Gandhi Ashram station) and Mumbai (Bandra-Kurla Complex station) by approximately 2026-27. The Union Budget for 2024-25 has earmarked a substantial fund of Rs 25,000 crore for this pioneering bullet train initiative. Noteworthy progress has been achieved, as indicated by the December report, which highlights the completion of land acquisition in Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Maharashtra.

In Maharashtra, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) has secured possession of nearly 81 percent of the acquired land, contributing to an overall project completion rate of 39.12 percent. All 11 civil tender packages spanning Gujarat and Maharashtra have been successfully awarded, marking a financial progress rate of 44.36 percent. Out of the total funds raised, approximately Rs 54,000 crore, Rs 11,400 crore has been utilized as capital during the current financial year.

Key milestones and operational deadlines for various sections of the project have been outlined, including Surat-Bilimoria slated for completion by July 2026 and Sagarmati-Vapi by August 2027. The detailed design for signaling and telecom (S&T) has been finalized by the Japanese collaborators, with plans to place early orders for long-lead S&T equipment through five distinct packages. Contracts for these packages are anticipated to be awarded directly to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) by February 2024.

Land acquisition for the bullet train project has reached full completion, accompanied by significant progress in pier casting (274.12 km) and girder launching (127.72 km). The budget estimates for the fiscal year 2024 stand at Rs 19,600 crore, with support from internal and extra-budgetary resources totaling Rs 20,592 crore. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project, inaugurated in September 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, continues to advance steadily towards its transformative realization.

News by Rahul Yelligetti