Bhavnagar: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Sunday that India’s first bullet train service between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will commence very soon, slashing the travel time to just two hours and seven minutes. Speaking at Bhavnagar terminus, where he virtually flagged off the Ayodhya Express, Rewa-Pune Express, and Jabalpur-Raipur Express, Vaishnaw highlighted the rapid progress of the bullet train project.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will cover a distance of 508 kilometres, starting from the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai and connecting key cities in Gujarat including Vapi, Surat, Anand, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad. The train will run at a top speed of 320 km per hour, offering a fast and efficient travel option.
Vaishnaw also outlined several upcoming railway initiatives in Gujarat such as a new train service between Porbandar and Rajkot, a Rs 135-crore coach maintenance facility at Ranavav station, a railway flyover in Porbandar city, two Gati Shakti cargo terminals, and a container terminal at a forthcoming port in Bhavnagar. He further noted the rapid advancement of projects in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, driven by the double-engine governments of the two states.
Highlighting the achievements under the Narendra Modi government over the past 11 years, Vaishnaw stated that 34,000 km of new railway tracks have been laid, averaging nearly 12 km daily. He emphasized the unprecedented scale of railway station redevelopment, with 1,300 stations undergoing renovation without disrupting train services, a challenge unique to India given its vast population and demand for continuous connectivity.
The minister spoke about modern trains introduced by the Modi government, including the Vande Bharat Express, Amrit Bharat Express, and Namo Bharat Express. He noted that eight Amrit Bharat trains have been launched, featuring similar amenities to the Vande Bharat trains but with more affordable fares. Built with advanced technology, these trains have garnered positive feedback from passengers for their comfort and innovation.
Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya and Nimuben Bambhaniya were also present at the event.
With PTI inputs