By Arun Kumar Das
New Delhi, Jul 26 (BVI): Delayed by many years, bullet train project is being planned to make Gujarat portion operational by December 2027 and entire section by December 2029, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha.
The 508 km long Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project is under execution with technical and financial assistance from the Government of Japan.
The Project is passing through the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.
While 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 December 2029.
However, the Bullet train project is a very complex and technology intensive Project. Exact timelines for the completion of the project can be reasonably ascertained after the completion of all associated works of Civil Structures, Track, Electrical, Signaling & Telecommunication and supply of Trainsets.
Total estimated cost of MAHSR project is approximately Rs 1,08,000 crores, out of which Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding 81 per cent of the project cost which is Rs 88,000 crores. Balance 19 per cent cost of Rs 20,000 crores will be funded through equity contribution from Ministry of Railways (50 per cent) and State Governments of Maharashtra (25 per cent) and Gujarat (25 per cent).
Cumulative Financial expenditure of Rs 78,839 crore has been incurred on the project till June, 2025.
The delay in land acquisition in the State of Maharashtra has impacted the project till 2021. However, currently, the entire land (1389.5 Ha.) for the MAHSR project has been acquired. The Final Location Survey and Geotechnical investigation completed and alignment finalized.
All Statutory Clearances relating to wildlife, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and Forest clearance have been obtained. All the civil contracts of the project have been awarded. Out of 28 tender packages, 24 tender packages have been awarded.
Till now, 392 km of pier construction, 329 km of Girder Casting and 308 km of Girder launching have been completed. The work of the 21 km long under-sea tunnel has also started.
In order to expand the HSR network in India beyond the MAHSR corridor and to meet the growing passenger demand between major cities of commercial/economic and tourist importance, Detailed Project Report (DPRs) are being prepared by National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
HSR projects are highly capital intensive and any decision for taking a new project is based on many factors such as technical feasibility, financial and economic viability, traffic demand and availability of funds & financing options etc.
Commercial operation of MAHSR Project involves an affordable fare- structure for the services taking into account the socio-economic conditions of the clientele for optimum patronage of the HSR sectors.
