The bullet train, a long-held dream for India, is soon to become a reality. Construction is advancing at an impressive pace. On Saturday, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project's 4.88-kilometer tunnel achieved a significant breakthrough. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the tunnel between Shilphata and Ghansoli.
Mr. Vaishnaw stated that the project will have a positive economic impact and accelerate development. He remarked that the project will create a multiplier effect on India's economy similar to Japan's.
Vaishnaw explained that this project will connect Mumbai, Anand, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Vapi into an economic corridor, enhancing business and production speed.
He noted that traveling from Ahmedabad to Mumbai currently takes 9 hours, but this project will cut it down to approximately 2 hours and 7 minutes.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the first phase of the project will commence in the Surat-Bilimora section by December 2027.
Meanwhile, a lengthy tunnel approximately 5 kilometers long is being constructed for the train, with part of it already finished. Work is ongoing from both ends of the tunnel.
This project is utilizing Japanese technology, with technical support from Japan. The tunnel employs a single tunnel technique to accommodate two bullet train tracks.
When Will the First Phase Launch?
The first phase will commence in 2027 in Surat-Bilimora, reach Thane by 2028, and extend to the Bandra Kurla Complex by 2029. A 321-kilometer viaduct has already been constructed for the 508-kilometer Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor.
