News Brief
India's First Bullet Train Set To Launch In August 2027 On Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Corridor
Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project (Representative image).
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday (9 October) that India's first bullet train will operate in August 2027, reported The Indian Express.
He added that the project is actively advancing in the Gujarat division.
The minister previously stated that the entire corridor is expected to be completed by December 2029.
He also noted, the bullet train services will be extended to Thane by 2028 and will finally reach Mumbai by 2029.
The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is working rapidly on India’s first bullet train project.
The 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, passing through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli, is being executed with technical and financial support from Japan.
The inaugural stretch will operate from Surat to Bilimora, forming part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor.
The project’s estimated cost is Rs 1,08,000 crore, with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funding 81 per cent of the cost, which amounts to approximately Rs 88,000 crore.
The remaining Rs 20,000 crore comes from equity contributions, with the Ministry of Railways covering 50 per cent, Maharashtra 25 per cent, and Gujarat 25 per cent.
As of 30 June 2025, cumulative financial expenditure on the project reached Rs 78,839 crore.
Once operational, India’s bullet train is expected to drastically reduce travel time on the Mumbai–Surat route to just 60 minutes, marking a milestone in the country’s high-speed rail development.
