The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) is being developed to connect two major cities, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. This would be the country’s first high-speed rail line, which will significantly reduce the travel time between both cities from 6 hours 35 minutes to 1 hour 58 minutes.
The project is being implemented by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHRCL), with the assistance of the Japanese government, at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.1 lakh crore. The bullet train is expected to serve 92,000 passengers per day by 2053. According to the Railway Ministry, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is 26% complete, which means that it may be delayed by four years from its original deadline of December 2023. The railway and telecom minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train service will be operational by August 2026.
See also: All about NHSRCL and India’s eight bullet train projects
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Construction details
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor will have 12 stations over 508 km through Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. The network will be 155.76 km long in Maharashtra (7.04 km in Mumbai suburban, 39.66 km in Thane and 109.06 km in Palghar), 348.04 km long in Gujarat and 4.3 km long in Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
A total of 1,396 hectares will be acquired for the project with 956 hectares in Gujarat, eight hectares in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and 432 hectares in Maharashtra.
The trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor will run on an elevated viaduct 10-15 m above the ground, except a 26-km line in Mumbai, which will be built underground, using 3 mega Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM). All the stations, except the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) station, would be on an elevated route.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Stations
In Maharashtra
- Mumbai
- Thane
- Virar
- Boisar
In Gujarat
- Vapi
- Bilimora
- Surat
- Bharuch
- Vadodara
- Anand
- Ahmedabad
- Sabarmati
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Features
- The bullet train project is being developed based on Japan’s E5 Shinkansen technology.
- The high-speed train will operate at 350 km per hour, covering the distance between the two cities in less than three hours.
- The trains will be equipped with modern facilities, including a new range of toilet systemsand changing rooms for babies.
- The bullet train will have a seating capacity of 731 passengers.
- There would be 35 trains per day in one direction; every 20 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during non-peak hours.
- Noise barriers have been installed along the viaduct to reduce train noise without obstructing passengers’ view.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Project timeline
- February 2016: The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV), was established for planning and executing bullet train projects in India
- July 2020: 60% of the land was acquired for the project
- February 2021: Larsen and Toubro (L&T) began construction work
- June 2021: Project reviewed by the railway minister
- January 2022: NHSRCL acquired 71% of the total land required in Maharashtra
- February 2022: Land acquisition completed in Gujarat
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Project cost
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.1 lakh crore. This includes 24 trainsets, construction interest and import duties.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) would fund 81% of the project cost through a 50-year loan of Rs 88,087 crore at an interest rate of 0.1% with a moratorium on repayments of up to 15 years. The remaining cost would be funded by the Maharashtra and Gujarat state governments and the central government.
JICA has signed an agreement with India to provide an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan of Rs 18,750 crore as Tranche 4 for the development of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. As per an official JICA statement, this is the largest amount committed through a single project loan agreement in the history of JICA.
FAQ
How fast is the bullet train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai?
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will travel at a speed of 320 kilometres per hour over a distance of 508 kilometres and 12 stations. The travel time will be less than three hours.
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