New Delhi, 01 November (H.S.): India is set to usher in a new era of high-speed rail travel, with the country’s first bullet train project making significant progress. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has shared a promotional video offering a glimpse of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, which is currently under construction.

The 11-second video features messages such as ‘Coming Soon’, ‘Construction of India’s First Bullet Train’ and ‘Stay Tuned’, along with a preview of the train’s interior.

Nearly 80 per cent of the ambitious project has been completed. Spanning 508 kilometres, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor is witnessing rapid progress in the construction of bridges, tunnels and track infrastructure. The first operational section, between Surat and Vapi, is expected to open in August 2027.

Once fully operational, the bullet train will cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in approximately one hour and 58 minutes. A total of 12 stations are planned along the corridor.

The trains will have a design speed of 350 kmph and an operational speed of 320 kmph, considerably higher than the 180 kmph design speed of India's existing Vande Bharat trains. The project will incorporate world-class safety standards, advanced signalling systems and sophisticated train control technologies.

The MAHSR project is not limited to a single route but is laying a strong foundation for India's future high-speed rail network. A standardised template is being developed on the basis of this project for upcoming bullet train corridors across the country.

The Central Government is planning to expand the high-speed rail network beyond the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor. Seven additional high-speed rail corridors, spanning approximately 4,000 kilometres, have been identified for future development. These strategically selected routes are expected to attract investments of around Rs. 16 lakh crore, potentially making a significant contribution to the country's long-term economic growth.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar