India’s first bullet train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is steadily moving ahead, with significant civil works completed across Gujarat and progress gathering pace in Maharashtra, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project is being developed with technical and financial assistance from Japan and is currently the only high-speed rail (HSR) project under execution in the country.
The corridor, which will run through Gujarat, Maharashtra and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, will have 12 stations — Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati. According to the government, the entire 1,389.5 hectares of land required for the project has been acquired, all statutory clearances obtained, and 1,651 utilities shifted.
Strong Push On Indigenisation And Technology Transfer
The Centre said the MAHSR project is not only about building a bullet train corridor but also about developing domestic expertise in advanced rail technologies. Long-span steel truss girders are being fabricated in Indian workshops, while heavy construction machinery for full-span launching is now being manufactured domestically.
Several components of slab track systems and specialised track machines are being produced by Indian manufacturers. Indian agencies, in collaboration with IITs, are also handling dynamic analysis and design refinements to build long-term high-speed rail capability.
The project has introduced innovations such as the full-span launching method for 40-metre prestressed box girders, indigenous noise barriers along elevated sections, and an indigenously developed Rail Turnover Prevention Device (RTPD) to enhance safety during derailments. Advanced simulation tools for overhead equipment (OHE) interaction and traction power supply systems have also been developed with IIT Delhi.
Around 1,000 Indian engineers and skilled workers have been trained in Japanese methodologies, and a dedicated track training facility has been set up in Surat.
Gujarat Leads In Construction Progress
Construction progress is significantly advanced in Gujarat. Foundation and pier works have been completed over 352 km, girder casting over 342 km and girder launching over 331 km. Track bed construction has reached 152 km, while erection of OHE masts has covered 121 km.
In Maharashtra, foundation work has been completed over 74 km and piers over 65 km, though girder casting and launching are still in early stages. Of the 12 planned stations, foundation works have been completed at eight stations in Gujarat. In Maharashtra, work is ongoing at Thane, Virar and Boisar, while excavation at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) underground station is nearing completion. Concreting works have progressed substantially, with the Level-4 basement slab fully completed.
Seventeen river bridges have already been completed. Work is at an advanced stage on major bridges over the Narmada, Mahi, Tapti and Sabarmati rivers in Gujarat, and ongoing on four river bridges in Maharashtra. Depot construction at Thane, Surat and Sabarmati is also in full swing.
The 21-km under-sea tunnel section has commenced, with 4.8 km already completed between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra.
Safety measures have been a major focus, with structures designed to withstand seismic forces. Viaducts and bridges include steel and damper stoppers to prevent dislodgement during earthquakes, and an Earthquake Early Warning System (EQEWS) is being installed. Stations are being designed with controlled entry points, baggage scanners, Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMDs) and CCTV surveillance, along with anti-vibration and wind-pressure management features. Sustainability standards aligned with IGBC Platinum norms are also being incorporated.
The government said ₹86,939 crore has been spent on the project till December 31, 2025. Ticket pricing is proposed to remain competitive with existing rail and air travel options, and long-term viability assessments factor in projected passenger demand, economic benefits and regional development.
In a related update, the Railways Ministry said the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) from Ludhiana to Sonnagar has been fully commissioned, while 1,404 route kilometres of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) from JNPT to Dadri have been completed. Currently, an average of 406 freight trains run daily on these corridors, easing congestion on the conventional rail network.
This information was provided by the Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a reply to questions in Lok Sabha.