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India’s Bullet Train Project: Speeding into the Future

A 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, progress update, technology, cost, timeline, and future HSR corridors in India.

Pratik Kamble

24 Aug 2025 — 1 min read

India’s Bullet Train Project

1. Corridor Snapshot

Route: Mumbai (BKC) ↔ Ahmedabad (Sabarmati), covering 508 km with 12 stations including Thane, Surat, Vadodara, and Anand.
Travel Time: Estimated ~2 hrs 7 mins with limited stops-massively cutting current travel times.

2. Cost & Funding Structure

Total Cost: Approx ₹1.08 lakh crore (₹108,000 crore).
Funding: 81% via JICA (~₹88,000 crore), remaining 19% through Indian Railways and state governments (50%+25%+25%).
Expenditure till Jun 2025: Around ₹78,839 crore spent.

3. Construction & Progress Highlights

Viaduct & Civil Works

300+ km of viaduct completed using the Full Span Launching Method (FSLM) and Span-by-Span (SBS), with 6,455 full spans deployed.
Foundational work is well underway across piers, girders, and steel fabrication units.

Land & Contracts

All land acquired (≈1,382 ha) - earlier delays in Maharashtra now resolved.
28 tender packages defined, with 24 awarded.

Viaduct & Tunnel

Undersea tunnel (21 km) work has commenced, including major segments across Thane Creek.
Station construction: BKC underground station 75% excavated; intelligent multi-basement setup underway.

Latest Milestones

300 km viaduct completed alongside 21 km undersea tunnel progress.
Advancements in girder and foundation construction, plus high-tech station and depot development.

4. Timeline: From Blueprint to Reality

Section	Target Completion
Gujarat (Vapi-Sabarmati)	December 2027
Full Corridor (incl. Maharashtra)	December 2029

5. Technology & Manufacturing

Trains: E10 Series Shinkansen from Japan, with advanced safety and earthquake-resistance features; expected service by FY2030.
Emphasis on Make in India: Local manufacturing of coaches, track slabs, and infrastructure components through technology transfer.

6. Looking Ahead: Beyond Mumbai-Ahmedabad

Delhi-Varanasi HSR (813 km, 13 stations) under planning, target opening around 2041.
Chennai-Mysuru High-Speed Rail (435 km) in early stages-proposed for 2051.
Several other corridors are being studied, setting the stage for a future national high-speed rail network.

Conclusion

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train is accelerating from concept to construction, driven by strategic funding, robust engineering, advanced tech, and visionary planning. Upon completion, this corridor will not just change travel times, it'll elevate urban development, sustainable transit, and the future of Indian rail.