Bullet Train to Boost Middle Class Travel, Says Ashwini Vaishnaw

New Delhi, 2 January. A new chapter is about to be added to the history of Indian Railways. Union Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Friday that the country will get its first bullet train by 15 August 2027. Work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is progressing rapidly and the project has recently reached a significant milestone.

The Rail Minister stated that this bullet train will not only showcase modern technology but will also be a practical and useful mode of transport for the common middle class.

At Rail Bhavan in New Delhi, the minister shared details about the project which includes a total of 12 stations. In Maharashtra, the stations will be Mumbai (BKC), Thane, Virar, and Boisar, while in Gujarat, the stations will include Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati. Sabarmati and Mumbai’s BKC are being developed as terminal stations. On the entire 508-kilometre route, three depots will be constructed, although typically two depots suffice for such distance.

Vaishnaw explained that during the previous Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra, crucial approvals and clearances were delayed for a long time. This caused project delays and led to the planning of a third depot as an additional arrangement. Despite these setbacks, the project is now moving forward at a fast pace.

A recent technical achievement in the bullet train project includes the successful breakthrough of Mountain Tunnel-5, one of seven mountain tunnels on the route. Additionally, the project includes an undersea tunnel. The 1.5-kilometre-long tunnel located in Palghar district, Maharashtra, is among the longest in the region and lies between Virar and Boisar stations. Earlier, a 5-kilometre underground tunnel between Thane and BKC was completed in September 2025.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is designed for a bullet train running at 320 km/h. The train will cover the entire 508 km distance in just 2 hours and 17 minutes. The track’s maximum capacity is set at 350 km/h. Noise barriers will be installed across the corridor, and compared to road transport, the project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 95 percent.

The Rail Minister emphasised that the bullet train is being designed with the middle class in mind. Its aim is not to be just a luxury but to serve the common people effectively. Currently, work is underway on the project in western India, with plans to develop similar high-speed rail corridors in eastern, northern, and southern India in the future. The bullet train is expected to promote industrial growth, IT hubs, and new economic centres.

So far, the construction of the bullet train project has provided employment to around 90,000 to 100,000 people. Even after the train begins operations, it will create significant new job opportunities. This project will offer a fast and safe travel option and will give fresh momentum to the country’s economy.

The minister also informed that the testing and certification of the Vande India Sleeper train have been completed. Its first route is proposed between Guwahati and Kolkata, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate it soon. Vaishnaw said the Vande India Sleeper train will provide world-class facilities, enhanced safety, and a modern travel experience for long-distance night journeys.

Last November, during his visit to Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspected the progress of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. He visited the Surat bullet train station and engaged with engineers and workers on site. The government claims that serious efforts are underway to complete this ambitious project within the scheduled timeframe.

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Daily Kiran