India’s Bullet Train Dream Inches Closer to Reality

Pratiksha Ghosh 

May 30,2025

India’s ambitious high-speed rail project, connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad, is making significant strides toward completion. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, spanning 508 kilometers, is now expected to commence partial operations by 2026, with full-scale operations anticipated by 2028 .

The project has achieved notable construction milestones. As of April 2025, 300 kilometers of viaducts have been completed, along with 375 kilometers of pier work and 394 kilometers of pier foundations . In Gujarat, structural work is complete at six of the eight planned stations, and track bed construction is progressing along 143 kilometers of the viaduct .

The bullet train will significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad from over seven hours to under three hours . The project incorporates advanced technologies, including the use of European signaling and telecommunication systems . Additionally, Japan plans to provide E5 and E3 series Shinkansen bullet trains to India as inspection vehicles for the corridor .

While construction in Gujarat is progressing rapidly, work in Maharashtra is catching up. Approximately 76% of the excavation work at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station in Mumbai has been completed . The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is overseeing the project, ensuring adherence to timelines and quality standards .

The MAHSR project is poised to revolutionise India's transportation landscape, offering faster travel, economic growth, and technological advancement.