Land acquisition for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, part of the National High-Speed Rail Corridor, has concluded. Construction has commenced on the elevated section in Maharashtra, covering 135 km from Shilphata near Mumbai to Zaroli village on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border.
This elevated stretch presents significant challenges, including six mountain tunnels, 36 crossings (including 11 steel and river bridges over Ulhas, Vaitarna, and Jagani rivers), and three bullet train stations in Thane, Virar, and Boisar within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Currently, cleaning and grubbing works are underway for 78 km, with geotechnical investigations at 50% completion. Open foundation construction has been completed at 19 locations and is ongoing at 42 others.
The bullet train aims to halve the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, covering the 508 km distance. The Gujarat section, spanning 352 km, is slated to open fully by 2027, with a 50 km stretch from Surat to Bilimora expected to open in August 2026.
