India’s ambitious Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is progressing at a rapid pace as the government has set the 2026 deadline for opening first stretch of the project.
In the south of Gujarat, which is known for its mangoes, Bilimora bullet train station is being constructed and designed similar to the mango orchards in the region. According to the reports, out of the total work of 450 meters of rail level slab, 375 meters have been completed.
After 100 percent land acquisition for the country’s first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the project has picked pace. Further, Bilimora station is being prepared with a special design near at Kesli village in Navsari district.
The station is spread across 38,394 square meters of land. Presently, the bullet train station’s slab level work is 83 percent completed.
First bullet train to hit tracks in 2026
Addressing the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India’s ambitious bullet train project is likely to be completed by 2026. The 35 km stretch between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat should be ready and the bullet train in this stretch will be operational by 2026, Vaishnaw added.
“The progress is very good and has picked up momentum. About 272 km of viaduct has been built,” he said while adding that about 14-15 km are being constructed every month.
Notably, the high-speed rail line is designed to incorporate a total of twelve bullet train stations. Proposed stations include Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand/Nadiad, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.
Further to facilitate seamless transfers with the Indian Railways network, the high-speed rail stations will be strategically constructed either above or adjacent to existing railway stations.
In July 2023, Larsen & Toubro (L&T) bagged a significant contract valued at Rs 15,697 crore from the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL) for this rail project. This contract represents the final phase of civil work necessary for the construction of the 508-km-long bullet train route.