Sarkhej-Dholera Rail: Faster Than RRTS, Cheaper Than Bullet Train

Officials from Indian Railways have said that the proposed Sarkhej-Dholera Semi High-Speed Rail Corridor will be significantly more cost-effective than several advanced rail systems in the country, despite supporting higher operational speeds than the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System.

The Delhi-Meerut RRTS, developed by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation, has an estimated construction cost of nearly ₹336 crore per kilometre on 1,435 mm standard gauge tracks. While the corridor has a design speed of 180 kmph, trains currently operate at 160 kmph.

In comparison, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor remains India’s most expensive rail infrastructure project, with an estimated construction cost of around ₹358 crore per kilometre and operational speeds reaching up to 320 kmph.

Railway officials noted that the Sarkhej-Dholera corridor will use the broader 1,676 mm gauge adopted by conventional Indian Railways networks, making the project more economical than standard-gauge high-speed rail systems. They added that differences in construction costs across projects are largely driven by variations in engineering complexity, technology requirements, elevated structures and tunnelling works.

On May 13, 2026, the Union Cabinet of India approved the 134-km double-line rail corridor connecting Sarkhej in Ahmedabad with Dholera in Gujarat, with an estimated investment of nearly ₹20,667 crore.

Officials said the project is expected to emerge as a cost-efficient model for future semi high-speed railway corridors while also supporting industrial development and improving regional connectivity in Gujarat.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.