India’s first bullet train corridor — the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project — is advancing steadily with significant construction progress. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced in Parliament that foundation work covering 406 km of the 508 km route has been completed, marking a crucial step in the project’s execution.
The project has already seen an expenditure of ₹78,839 crore, with 100% of land acquisition completed, ensuring smooth continuation of works across Gujarat and Maharashtra. Track-laying has also begun, with 127 km of viaduct already receiving rails, showcasing visible progress on India’s first high-speed rail infrastructure.
Beyond foundation and track work, tunneling operations and station construction are also advancing at pace, reinforcing the government’s commitment to delivering this flagship project. Once completed, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor will significantly reduce travel time, boost regional connectivity, and position India among nations with advanced high-speed rail systems.
The project has incurred an expenditure of ₹78,839 crore as of June 30, 2025. Land acquisition is 100% complete (1,389.5 hectares), and 24 of the 28 tender packages have been awarded. Over 1,650 utilities have been relocated, and noise barriers are being installed along the corridor.Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that final timelines and total costs can only be confirmed after the completion of all critical infrastructure components—track, electrical systems, signaling, and procurement of Shinkansen train sets from Japan.
The minister clarified that Vande Bharat trains are not substitutes for the bullet train. While Vande Bharat is designed for semi-high-speed travel on existing rail networks, the MAHSR is being built specifically for Japanese high-speed technology, with 150 Vande Bharat trains already operational and 200 sleeper variants under development at ICF, Chennai.
As India races to join the elite league of high-speed rail nations, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor is becoming a symbol of advanced infrastructure, international collaboration, and transformative mobility.
