India’s first bullet train project moves closer to launch after years of delays

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New Delhi: India's long-delayed Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is gaining momentum, with railway officials saying the first operational stretch is expected to open in 2027, almost 10 years after construction began. The first service is scheduled to run on a portion in Gujarat before the entire 508-kilometer link is built.

The project, which received Japanese financial and technical aid, suffered by years of land acquisition delays, mainly in Maharashtra. Officials say these obstacles have mostly been handled, allowing work to speed quickly. Major civil works, including viaducts, tunnels, bridges and station infrastructure, have made significant progress over the route.

The high-speed rail line will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad with trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 320 kmph, reducing travel time between the two cities to approximately two hours. Authorities also see the project as a step toward expanding India's high-speed rail network, with multiple new bullet train tracks planned throughout the country.

The project is expected to bring Japan's Shinkansen technology to India and boosting domestic expertise in high-speed rail construction and manufacturing. The government believes that the lessons learned from the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor will assist speed up future bullet train projects across the country.