India to run first bullet train in 2026: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railways minister Ashwani Vaishnaw has expressed confidence that the country’s first bullet train will become operational in 2026. Vaishnaw said this after reviewing construction of the Ahmedabad–Mumbai bullet train project in Surat today.

“We have inspected the construction of Ahmedabad–Mumbai bullet train. The progress is very good. The construction is going on at a fast pace. Pillars have been cast on a length of 61 kilo meters. Work is progressing simultaneously on about 150 kms,” says railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw after the review of the construction.

“Our target is to run the first bullet train between Surat and Bilimura in 2026. I am confident that we will make the section operational by then,” Vaishnaw adds.

The Ahmedabad–Mumbai bullet train, which is being built at a cost of over ₹1.1 lakh crore with funding from the Japan International Co-operation Agency, will cover the distance of 508 km in three hours from the current duration of six hours. There will be 12 stations on route. JICA is funding 81% of the project cost.

The other railway projects being funded through JICA are the Eastern and Western dedicated freight corridors.

In Surat, Vaishnaw also visited the casting yard of the bullet train and the under construction station, Antroli. Notably, the progress on the high speed corridor may be going on at a fast pace in Gujarat, but land acquisition delays are impacting the project in Maharashtra.