Is the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project really on track?

New Delhi, Aug 20 (NationPress) The construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project, spanning 508 km, is progressing rapidly, with foundational work completed over 406 km and track laying initiated on 127 km of viaduct, as reported by Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw to Parliament on Wednesday.

Key completed components include the construction of piers across 395 km and the casting and launching of girders in more than 300 km. The installation of overhead equipment masts for electrifying locomotives has also begun, the minister disclosed in the Lok Sabha.

Of the 12 planned stations, foundation work has been finalized at 8 stations including Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati. In the Maharashtra segment, foundations are underway at 3 stations: Thane, Virar, and Boisar. Additionally, excavation at BKC station is nearing completion, with base slab casting currently in progress.

So far, 16 river bridges have been finalized, with advanced work on 5 major river bridges including Narmada, Vishwamitri, Mahi, Tapti, and Sabarmati in Gujarat, while construction on 4 river bridges continues in Maharashtra. Depot projects at Thane, Surat, and Sabarmati are also making headway. Notably, the only tunnel in Gujarat has been completed, while work on the undersea tunnel, approximately 21 km, has commenced, along with the completion of a 4 km tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra.

As of June 30, 2025, a total expenditure of Rs 78,839 crore has been allocated to the project. This initiative has generated employment opportunities for those involved in construction, supply chains, and various services.

However, the minister acknowledged that a bullet train project is inherently complex and technology-driven, indicating that the precise timelines and costs for project completion can only be reliably determined once all associated civil structures, tracks, electrical systems, signaling, telecommunications, and trainset supplies are finalized.

Moreover, Vaishnaw confirmed that all 1,389.5 hectares of land required for the MAHSR project has been acquired, with all necessary statutory clearances, including those related to wildlife, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), and forest clearances, secured. All civil contracts have been awarded, with 24 out of 28 tender packages successfully issued. The relocation of all 1,651 utilities has been accomplished, and noise barriers are being installed to mitigate operational noise.

In a related context, the minister clarified that Vande Bharat trains are semi-high-speed trainsets tailored for the existing network and are not intended for the bullet train project, which is specifically designed for Japanese Shinkansen trains.

Currently, 150 Vande Bharat train services with chair cars are operational on Indian Railways' broad gauge electrified network. The introduction of new train services, including Vande Bharat, remains ongoing, contingent on traffic justification, operational feasibility, and resource availability. These trainsets have been indigenously designed and produced by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, with the manufacturing of 200 Vande Bharat Sleeper rakes currently underway, supporting the Make in India initiative aimed at expanding services to additional routes.