Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Indian Railways Highlights Tender Awarding As Key To Timely Completion Of Project

The completion date for India's ambitious 508 km-long Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project (MAHSR), commonly known as the bullet train project, remains uncertain, according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

NHSRCL stated that a definitive completion date for the entire project can only be determined once all work tenders have been awarded. The corporation is responsible for the construction of the high-speed rail corridor.

Despite the uncertainty conveyed in the RTI response, an official associated with the project reassured that the bullet train project is progressing as planned. The official disclosed that 163 km of viaduct, 302 km of piers, and 323 km of foundations have been constructed so far.

Madhya Pradesh-based RTI applicant Chandra Shekhar Gaur had sought clarity on the project's completion date from NHSRCL.

In response, NHSRCL stated, "The completion date for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project can be assessed after award of all tenders/packages." Initially launched in 2017 with a target completion date set for December 2023, the project has faced delays due to land acquisition issues and the Covid-19 pandemic, reports Financial Express.

The Railways Ministry recently announced the completion of the first phase, a 50-km-long section between Surat and Bilimora, by August 2026. Moreover, as of January 2024, the ministry confirmed that 100 per cent of the land required for the project has been acquired. Despite these updates, the final completion date for the entire bullet train project remains to be determined.

India’s First Bullet Train Project

The high-speed rail operating at 320 kmph will traverse along west India’s landscape, covering a 508.17 km distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just about two hours.

This will save time compared to current travel time between the two terminal stations by about nine hours (by bus) or six hours (by conventional railways).

It will cover 155.76 km in Maharashtra, 4.3 km in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and 348.04 km in Gujarat, with 12 stations en route.

The project highlights include introduction of a slab track system for the first time in India, construction of 24 river bridges, 28 steel bridges, and seven mountain tunnels along the corridor, and the construction of a 7 km undersea tunnel.