The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, India’s first bullet train corridor, is progressing rapidly and is expected to be fully operational by December 2029. The ambitious ₹1.08 lakh crore project, backed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by Indian Railways, spans 508 km across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that the Gujarat section, stretching from Vapi to Sabarmati, is set for completion by December 2027. The full corridor—from Mumbai to Sabarmati—is targeted for completion by the end of 2029. The project includes 12 planned stations, including major hubs like Mumbai, Thane, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.
Despite earlier delays in land acquisition, especially in Maharashtra, all 1,389.5 hectares required for the project have now been secured. Significant construction milestones have been achieved, with 392 km of piers built, 329 km of girders cast, and 308 km launched. Work on the 21-km undersea tunnel section has also commenced.
The bullet train project is not only a technological milestone but also a symbol of India’s infrastructure modernization. Japan is contributing 81% of the funding (₹88,000 crore), while the remaining ₹20,000 crore is split between the Ministry of Railways and the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
To meet growing passenger demand between major economic and tourist hubs, detailed project reports (DPRs) for future high-speed rail corridors are already underway by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
With all 28 civil contract packages almost awarded and full-scale construction in progress, India is well on its way to launching its first high-speed bullet train service by 2029.
