India’s first Bullet Train: Mumbai-Ahmedabad route may be fully serviceable by 2030

India’s first bullet train is expected to begin operations on the Sabarmati–Vapi section in Gujarat by 2028, with the full 508-km Ahmedabad–Mumbai corridor likely to be completed by 2030, said reports. National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is conducting a ridership survey to project fares and passenger traffic. The assessment targets 2028 for the Sabarmati–Vapi stretch and 2030 as the base year for full operations between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor spans approximately 508 km. It will pass through major regions including Mumbai (BKC), Thane, Virar, and Boisar in Maharashtra, and Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati in Gujarat. The Gujarat section covers 348 km, while the Maharashtra segment is around 156 km. 

Union Minister Harsh Sanghvi recently confirmed that India’s first bullet train station in Surat is nearly complete. Trial runs are scheduled to begin next year, with full operations anticipated by 2029. He also shared construction updates and images from the site.

NHSRCL has finished constructing 300 km of viaducts, including the recent launch of a 40-metre girder near Surat. Of this, 257.4 km was built using the Full Span Launching Method (FSLM), featuring 14 river bridges. The remaining spans include 37.8 km built using the Span by Span method, 0.9 km of steel bridges, 1.2 km of PSC bridges, and 2.7 km within station buildings. To reduce operational noise, over 3 lakh noise barriers have been installed along the viaducts.

In addition, the project has completed 383 km of pier work, 401 km of foundation work, and 326 km of girder casting. Thematic bullet train stations are taking shape across the corridor, designed to integrate with both rail and road transport systems.

The project is notable for deploying indigenously developed equipment such as the Straddle Carriers, Launching Gantries, Bridge Gantries and Girder, supported by Japanese technical assistance.