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Mumbai to Ahmedabad in just 127 minutes: India’s first bullet train service to begin soon, says Ashwini Vaishnaw | India News

August 3, 2025
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Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Launch: India’s first bullet train service on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route will commence soon. Speaking at an event in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train service will begin very soon. Once operational, it will reduce travel time between the two cities to just 2 hours and 7 minutes (127 minutes), he said.

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“The first bullet train from Mumbai to Ahmedabad will start very soon, and the work on the project is going on at a fast pace. When it starts running, the journey from Mumbai to Ahmedabad will take only two hours and seven minutes,” Vaishnaw said.

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The Railway Minister was at Bhavnagar terminus from where he virtually flagged off three trains: the Bhavnagar Terminus–Ayodhya Cantt Express, the Rewa–Pune Express, and a new train connecting Jabalpur to Raipur.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

The 508-km long Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project will have 12 stations namely – Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

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Mumbai Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Cost

The total estimated cost of MAHSR project is Rs 1,08,000 crore (approximately). Of these, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding 81% of the project cost i.e. Rs. 88,000 crores.

Mumbai Ahmedabad Bullet Train Cost

Last year, Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF) awarded a contract to design, manufacture, and commission of two high-speed trains to BEML Limited. Both the trainsets will be developed on Japanese Shinkansen technology. According to BEML, the price of each high-speed car is Rs 27.86 crore and the total contract value is Rs 866.87 crore.

Mumbai Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Completion Date

Recently, in a written reply to Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the Gujarat portion of the corridor between Vapi and Sabarmati is planned to be completed by December, 2027.

“The entire project (Maharashtra to Sabarmati section) is expected to be completed by Dec, 2029. However, Bullet train project is a very complex and technology intensive Project,” he noted.

Anish Mondal

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Anish Mondal is a business journalist with over nine years of experience. He writes on diverse subjects such as Infrastructure, Railways, Roadways, Aviation, Politics, Market, Parliamentary affairs, Corporate earnings, General and International news etc. … Read More

A Leap into the Future: Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train in 127 Minutes

Imagine starting your day with fafda and dhokla in Ahmedabad, boarding a train shortly after, and reaching Mumbai in just 2 hours and 7 minutes—with time left for an evening snack with your family. That’s the thrilling vision unveiled by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who recently reassured the nation that India’s long-anticipated Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train will be operational “very soon” The Indian Express.

Transforming a Route into an Economic Powerhouse

More than a mere transit corridor, the bullet train is designed to bind together cities like Thane, Vapi, Surat, Bilimora, Vadodara, Anand–Nadiad, and Ahmedabad into a single, dynamic economic zone. Drawing inspiration from how Japan’s Osaka–Tokyo route turned its six cities into industrial and residential engines, Vaishnaw envisions similar growth along India’s western corridor The Indian Express+1.

A Glimpse into the Current Status

Construction progress is accelerating across multiple fronts:

  • Over 300 km of viaducts completed, employing advanced techniques like the Full‑Span Launching Method to accelerate the process, alongside traditional Span‑by‑Span construction The Times of India.

  • A 100‑metre “Make in India” steel bridge successfully launched over the Dedicated Freight Corridor near Bharuch, underlining the homegrown spirit of this initiative The Economic Times.

  • The 21‑km undersea tunnel’s first section between Ghansoli and Shilphata is now complete. Alongside this, viaduct work spanning 310 km, progress on tracks, overhead wiring, station and bridge construction, and more, is well underway Navbharat Times.

  • Cutting-edge ETCS Level 2 signalling and telecom systems will be installed by a Siemens consortium under a ₹4,100‑crore contract—essential for safe high-speed operations The Times of India.

  • The Gujarat section (Vapi to Sabarmati) is slated for completion by December 2027, while the entire Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor aims for full operational readiness by December 2029 The Times of India.

  • Ambitiously, the government is even targeting the first section of the train to be operational by 2026 The Financial Express.

The Technical Roadmap & Vision Ahead

Once operational, the corridor will span 508 km with 12 stations, integrating cities like Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati The Indian ExpressWikipedia.

There will be two types of services:

  • A “Rapid Train” with minimal stops—covering the stretch in 2 hr 7 min.

  • A slower local service, stopping at all stations, completing the journey in 2 hr 58 min Wikipedia.

Trains will run at a planned operational speed of 320 km/h, with infrastructure built to handle up to 350 km/h The Indian ExpressWikipedia. Technology is being transferred from Japan’s Shinkansen, including rolling stock, signalling designs, and safety standards. In fact, E5 and next‑generation E10 series Shinkansen trains are in play—modified for India’s infrastructure and climate, with features like enhanced cooling, dust filters, and space for heavier passenger luggage Navbharat TimesWikipedia.

Economic Benefits & National Ambitions

This bullet train corridor is not just a project—it’s a transformative engine poised to redefine regional connectivity, spur local economies, and promote the “Make in India” movement through indigenous manufacturing and infrastructure. Vaishnaw’s vivid metaphor—of people savoring local delicacies and traveling between cities with ease—illustrates the human impact behind the steel and concrete The Indian Express+1.

As of mid‑2025, over ₹78,800 crore has already been spent, with total costs nearing ₹1.1 lakh crore, largely funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (81%), alongside contributions from Indian Railways and state governments The Times of India.

In Summary

  • Journey time: 2 hr 7 min (127 minutes)

  • Ambition: To create a seamless economic corridor across western India

  • Progress: Viaducts, tunnels, stations, signalling, and “Make in India” bridges are rapidly taking shape

  • Timelines: Gujarat section by 2027; full corridor by 2029; possible partial launch by 2026

  • Vision: A showcase of Indian infrastructure, technological collaboration, and transformative regional growth

India’s high-speed revolution is rolling out—literally—promising a future where Mumbai and Ahmedabad are no longer hours apart, but virtually neighbors, bound by steel, speed, and shared progress.

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