Gujarat Bullet Train Corridor Work Speeds Up, Set for 2027 Completion

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project, commonly known as the bullet train corridor, is moving ahead rapidly in Gujarat, with work between Vapi and Sabarmati expected to be completed by December 2027. The full 508 km corridor, which will connect Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, is targeted for completion by December 2029—coinciding with the year of the next Lok Sabha elections.

According to the Ministry of Railways, the bullet train will stop at 12 stations—Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati. Construction at these stations is in full swing, particularly in Gujarat where progress is most visible.

The project is being executed with financial and technical assistance from Japan, with the **Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)** funding 81 percent of the total cost. The remaining 19 percent is being shared through equity contributions—50 percent by the Ministry of Railways and 25 percent each by the governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat. The total estimated cost of the project now stands at ₹1,08,000 crore, and as of June 30, 2025, approximately ₹78,839 crore has already been spent.

Land acquisition delays in Maharashtra had earlier impacted the timeline, but all civil contracts have now been awarded. Out of 28 tender packages, 24 have been finalized. So far, 392 km of piers, 329 km of girders cast, and 308 km of girders launched have been completed. The construction of the 21 km undersea tunnel has also begun.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared that the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is preparing detailed project reports for the expansion of India’s high-speed rail network beyond the current corridor, to meet future passenger demand. He also assured Parliament that the bullet train service will follow an affordable fare structure that considers the socio-economic conditions of the travelling public.