Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that India's first bullet train, linking Mumbai and Ahmedabad, will begin operations very soon. The high-speed rail will cover 508 km in just 2 hours and 7 minutes, down from the current 7-8 hours, zooming at 320 kmph.

The 508-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, will connect Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex to Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, passing through key stations like Surat, Vadodara, and Vapi.

With a massive budget of ₹1.08 lakh crore, India's ambitious bullet train project is being developed in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is funding 81% of the total cost. The high-speed trains will incorporate Japan's cutting-edge Shinkansen technology, guaranteeing world-class safety and efficiency. The initial Mumbai-Sabarmati section is slated to begin operations by 2027, with the entire 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad route expected to be operational by 2029.

During the announcement, he virtually inaugurated three new express services, the Ayodhya, Rewa-Pune, and Jabalpur-Raipur trains. He also unveiled upcoming infrastructure developments in Gujarat, featuring a state-of-the-art ₹135 crore coach maintenance facility and modern Gati Shakti cargo terminals.

The Railway Minister also highlighted the ongoing modernisation of 1,300 railway stations across the country. A key feature was the introduction of the Amrit Bharat Express, which offers Vande Bharat-like facilities at a fraction of the cost, making premium travel more affordable and accessible to a wider audience.