Bullet Train Project: New mission mode for faster approvals and progress on Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has entered a critical stage with track laying now underway. To avoid previous delays and cost increases, the Ministry of Railways is adopting a mission mode approach for all future high-speed rail corridors. This strategy aims to get all necessary approvals from central and state governments quickly.
What is the current status of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train
The project is using Japanese Shinkansen technology with a J-Slab ballastless track system. As of April 2026, over half of the work is complete, with significant progress in Gujarat. The train will run at a speed of 320 kmph. The Surat-Bilimora section is expected to open by August 2027, while the entire corridor should be ready by 2029.
How will future bullet train projects be handled
The government will now secure bundled clearances from local, state, and central authorities before starting new projects. This is to prevent the land acquisition issues that pushed the MAHSR cost from ₹1.08 lakh crore to nearly ₹1.98 lakh crore. The Ministry of Railways has set a March 2027 deadline for the Detailed Project Reports of new corridors.
Details of proposed high-speed rail corridors
| Proposed Route | Status/Deadline |
|---|---|
| Hyderabad–Chennai | DPR by March 2027 |
| Hyderabad–Bengaluru | DPR by March 2027 |
| Patna–Siliguri | DPR by March 2027 |
| Mumbai-Pune | Proposed in Budget 2026-27 |
| Pune-Hyderabad | Proposed in Budget 2026-27 |
| Delhi-Varanasi | Proposed in Budget 2026-27 |