India's First Bullet Train To Launch By 2026; Mumbai To Ahmedabad In 3 Hrs, Speed 320 Kmph

India's First Bullet Train Launch Date News: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today gave a big news update on launch date of India's first Bullet Train between Mumbai-Ahmedab. Surat-Bilimora section on 508-km-long corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedab could be operational by July-August 2026, Ashwini Vaishnaw announced today, news agency PTI reported. or sections will be opened one after or reafter, he said.

bullet train corridor will have ‘limited stop’ and ‘all stop’ services. While limited-stop trains will cover distance between Mumbai and Ahmedab in just two hours, or service will take about 2 hours 45 minutes, minister said.

Speed of India's First Bullet Train Between Mumbai-Ahmedab

railway minister said India's first bullet train would touch speed up to 320 kmph. Vaishnaw said that re are complexities and difficulties tied to corridor as trains will run at 320 kmph on it. “But our biggest aim in this project is to understand this complete technology,” he said.

Mumbai-Ahmedab Bullet Train Route To Have 12 Stations

India's first bullet train will have 12 stations on route. A total of 12 stations have been planned for project, which is being implemented by National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

284-Km-Long Bullet Train Corridor Viuct Rey

railway minister said that 284-km-long bullet train corridor viuct is rey in Gujarat, where work has progressed speedily. It is now happening at same speed in Maharashtra as well, he said.

" Thackeray government, unfortunately, delayed project much but y will try to “make up for it now”, he said.

Bullet Train To Make Mumbai-Ahmedab Single Economic Zone

High-speed rail projects should be seen from an economical standpoint and not as transport initiatives.

With high-speed connectivity, areas like Mumbai, Thane, Vapi, Surat, Vodara, Anand and Ahmedab will turn into a single economic zone and it will give m a "big economic boost", railway minister asserted.

To speed up tunnel construction, Vaishnaw said, innovations have been me and work was started from four points at a time. Of four points two are shafts, one IT (ditionally driven intermediate tunnel) and one final point at BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex) station.

bullet train corridor has a 21-km-long tunnel, including a 7-km undersea stretch, he said, calling work challenging.

deepest point of tunnel is 56 metres and it will also be very wide with a width of 40 feet. Inside tunnel too, trains will run at speed of 300-320 kmph, Vaishnaw said.

“We have many cities having a population of over 1 crore. To give m low-cost and less time (consuming) transport systems, our country needs to achieve ‘mahrath’ (expertise) in such technology,” he said.

According to NHSRCL, 21-km shaft, which will have India’s first undersea tunnel, is coming up between BKC in Mumbai and Shilphata in neighbouring Thane district. It will be a single tube tunnel having Up and Down tracks.

India's First Bullet Train Project Update

Work on tunnel is underway at BKC, Vikhroli and Ghansoli. NHSRCL said y are facing multiple challenges at se shaft construction sites, which have high population density and several utilities like pipelines, electrical installation and infrastructure projects, including Metro and highways.

“Three Tunnel Boring Machines will be used to make about 16 km of tunnel portion and remaining 5 km will be through New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM)," NHSRCL said.

Cost of India's First Bullet Train Pegged At Rs 1.08 Lakh Crore

cost of project is pegged at Rs 1.08 lakh crore and as per its shareholding pattern, Government of India is to pay Rs 10,000 crore to NHSRCL, while two states involved, Gujarat and Maharashtra, are to pay Rs 5,000 crore each. rest is to be funded by Japan through a loan carrying 0.1 per cent interest.

India's First Bullet Train Highlights:

Launch: Surat-Bilimora section by July-August 2026, or stations to follow.
Speed: 320 Kmph, travel time cut to 2 hours (limited stop) and 2 hours 45 minutes (all stop).
Route: 12 stations between Mumbai and Ahmedab.
Impact: Aims to create a single economic zone and boost growth.
Challenges: Tunnel construction with undersea section, high-speed complexities.
Cost: Rs 1.08 lakh crore, funded by India, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Japan loan.

country’s first bullet train project would have seen much progress by now h n Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra expedited permissions, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday, asserting that high-speed line will usher in economic growth.

“H (n) Uddhav Thackeray government given all permissions faster, this project might have progressed much ahe by now,” Vaishnaw said.

(PTI Inputs)