Preparations for the launch of India's first high-speed railway are in full swing, including work on tracks, bridges, and railway stations. The Bullet Train is expected to begin operating on the high-speed route in 2027. Transport Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on social media that India's first high-speed railway is taking concrete shape.
He detailed the railway stations being prepared for the high-speed train service, as well as the underwater tunnel. Specifically, a station is being built in Mumbai located 100 feet underground, and a 7-kilometer tunnel under the sea is being created through which the Bullet Train will pass.
The Transport Minister shared project details in a post on the social media platform Twitter (now X). He emphasized that India's first high-speed railway is no longer just an announcement; it is a 508 km construction project that is progressing at full speed. The first operation is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027. The Bullet Train will first run on the high-speed route between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.
According to the minister's statement, construction of the high-speed railway station is underway in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) area of Mumbai, situated about 100 feet (approximately 32 meters) below ground level. This underground station is a unique engineering achievement located in the heart of Mumbai's business district. Three levels are being prepared for this station: the platform, concourse, and service area. Six platforms are planned, each exceeding 400 meters in length.
Several kilometers from this underground station, under Thane Creek, India's first underwater railway tunnel system is being constructed using a rock-cutting machine. This is the tunnel through which the Bullet Train will travel at high speed. According to the minister, the high-speed rail corridor in Maharashtra passes through a 21 km tunnel, with 7 km of it located underwater under Thane Creek, making it India's first underwater railway tunnel system.
The post also noted that two tunnel boring machines were launched in Viroli and Savli in July 2026. These machines are among the largest ever used in India. Each machine is equipped with a 13.6-meter diameter cutter head, equivalent to the height of a four-story building. The weight of each machine exceeds 3000 tons, equivalent to approximately 500 Asian elephants. The length of each machine is 96 meters, comparable to five cricket fields.
At full speed, the Bullet Train will reach a speed of 320 kilometers per hour, and between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, it will travel at an average speed of about 300 kilometers per hour starting next year. The 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor passes through the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and includes 12 major stops. These include: Mumbai (BKC), Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bhuchar, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.