Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train: Gujarat stretch to be ready by 2027, full project by 2029
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New Delhi: The Gujarat portion of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, running from Vapi to Sabarmati, is expected to be completed by December 2027, while the entire 508-km bullet train project is targeted for completion by December 2029, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed Parliament on Wednesday.
The minister, however, noted that the MAHSR is a highly complex and technology-intensive project, and final timelines can only be reasonably determined after completing all civil works, tracks, electrical systems, signaling, telecommunication, and trainset procurement.
The MAHSR, India’s first bullet train project, is being implemented with financial and technical assistance from the Japanese government. It passes through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.
As of June 30, 2025, the project has seen a cumulative expenditure of Rs 78,839 crore. The total estimated cost stands at around Rs 1.08 lakh crore, of which 81 per cent (about Rs 88,000 crore) is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The remaining 19 per cent, amounting to Rs 20,000 crore, will come from equity contributions by the Ministry of Railways (50 per cent) and the state governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat (25 per cent each).
Land acquisition delays in Maharashtra held up the project until 2021. However, Vaishnaw confirmed that the entire required land, 1,389.5 hectares, has now been acquired. The Final Location Survey, geotechnical investigations, and alignment finalization have been completed. All necessary statutory clearances related to wildlife, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), and forest permissions have also been obtained. Additionally, all civil contracts for the project have been awarded.
As of now, 392 km of pier construction, 329 km of girder casting, and 308 km of girder launching have been completed. Work on the approximately 21-km undersea tunnel has also commenced.
To further expand the high-speed rail (HSR) network across India, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for new corridors are being prepared by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), focusing on routes connecting commercial and tourism hubs.
HSR projects are capital-intensive, and decisions to launch new corridors depend on factors such as technical feasibility, financial and economic viability, projected traffic, and funding options. The government is also working on a fare structure for the MAHSR aimed at making services affordable and socially inclusive to encourage wider public adoption.
