India's First Bullet Train Project Expected to Be Ready by 2029: Vaishnaw.

India's ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, popularly known as the bullet train, is making substantial headway, with the Gujarat portion between Vapi and Sabarmati targeted for completion by December 2027. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the entire 508-kilometer corridor, linking Maharashtra to Sabarmati, is expected to be fully operational by December 2029.

The MAHSR project, benefiting from technical and financial assistance from Japan, spans across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. It will feature 12 stations: Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.

Minister Vaishnaw emphasized the complex and technology-intensive nature of the project. He noted that "precise completion timelines would be more accurately determined after all associated works, including civil structures, track laying, electrical systems, signaling, telecommunications, and trainset supplies, are finalised."

Significant Strides in Progress

The total estimated cost for the MAHSR project stands at approximately ₹1,08,000 crore. Of this, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing 81 percent (₹88,000 crore) in funding, while the remaining 19 percent (₹20,000 crore) is covered by equity contributions: 50 percent from the Ministry of Railways, 25 percent from the Maharashtra government, and 25 percent from the Gujarat government. As of June 30, a cumulative financial expenditure of ₹78,839 crore has been incurred.

The Minister acknowledged that initial delays in land acquisition in Maharashtra had impacted the project's progress until 2021. However, he confirmed that the entire 1389.5 hectares required for the MAHSR project have now been successfully acquired.

Significant progress has been reported in both the preparatory and construction phases. The final location survey and geotechnical investigation are complete, and the alignment for the entire corridor has been finalized. All necessary statutory clearances, including those related to wildlife, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), and forest, have also been secured.

Construction Milestones and Future Outlook

Updating on the ongoing construction, Vaishnaw stated that all civil contracts for the project have been awarded, with 24 out of 28 tender packages successfully granted. Physical progress includes the completion of 392 kilometers of pier construction, 329 kilometers of girder casting, and 308 kilometers of girder launching. Notably, work has also commenced on the challenging 21-kilometer under-sea tunnel, a critical component of the project.

Looking beyond the current project, the Minister highlighted the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL)'s efforts in preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to expand India's High-Speed Rail (HSR) network to other major cities. He noted that new HSR projects are highly capital-intensive, and decisions for their undertaking are based on various factors, including technical feasibility, financial and economic viability, traffic demand, and the availability of funds and financing options.

Regarding the commercial operation of the MAHSR project, Vaishnaw affirmed that an affordable fare structure would be implemented. This approach will consider the socio-economic conditions of potential clientele to ensure optimal patronage of the high-speed rail service.