Confident Of Running First Bullet Train In 2026: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Surat: India’s ambitious bullet train project is on course for a 2026 launch.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Monday that the government is confident of achieving the target of operating the country’s first bullet train between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat in four years’ time.

Vaishnaw was satisfied with the progress of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project after inspecting ongoing work in Surat on Monday.

“We are keeping the target of running the first bullet train between Surat and Bilimora in 2026. The progress is very good, and we are confident of running the train by that time,” Vaishnaw told newspersons.

The bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will run on a high speed rail (HSR) corridor at a speed of 320 kmph, covering a distance of 508 km and 12 stations in about three hours – half the time needed now.

The estimated cost of the mega project is Rs 1.1 lakh crore, of which Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding 81%.

Vaishnaw informed that pillars for the project have been put up on 61 km of the route and work is underway on around 150 km.

“It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to provide ultra-modern and best services, such as redevelopment of railway stations, new Vande Bharat trains, Kavach (automatic train protection system), bullet trains… We are working to fulfil the aspirations of 130 crore Indians,” Vaishnaw said.

As for progress of the bullet train project in Maharashtra, Vaishnaw said it was slow due to land acquisition issues.

“This is a national project and there should not be any politics over it… I believe we would set an example of working together on this project,” Vaishnaw remarked.