Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 19: India’s long-awaited bullet train dream is set to roll into reality in August 2027, with the first high-speed run scheduled between Surat and Vapi in Gujarat. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday confirmed that the 100-km stretch will mark the country’s debut run of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project — India’s first Shinkansen-style bullet train corridor.
Speaking to the media after launching the rationalisation of bulk cement rates and a new policy for bulk cement terminals, Vaishnaw said that the entire 508-km corridor from Sabarmati to Mumbai is progressing rapidly and will be fully operational by December 2029.
“A significant milestone is that the bullet train will cover the distance between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in just 1 hour 58 minutes once the corridor is complete,” he said.
The high-speed trains will run at 320 kmph, reducing travel time drastically.
• With four stops: 1 hour 58 minutes
• If all 12 stations are covered: 2 hours 17 minutes
When asked whether the inaugural run will use a Japanese-built Shinkansen or an indigenous variant, the minister did not disclose details but reaffirmed the timeline:
“We will cover the first 100 km in August 2027.”
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a recent review meeting in Surat, expressed satisfaction with the pace of the project. “PM Modi said the innovations developed for this project should be replicated across various sectors, not just in railways,” Vaishnaw noted.
Calling it one of India’s most challenging infrastructure projects, the minister said numerous engineering hurdles have been addressed through innovative solutions adopted by Indian Railways. The Shinkansen system — renowned globally for its reliability and safety — is expected to be used for the MAHSR.
Vaishnaw also announced the introduction of specialised containers for transporting bulk cement, aimed at reducing dust pollution during freight movement.
With the first trial run just two years away, India is gearing up for a historic leap into the era of high-speed rail travel.