The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has reached a major milestone with construction of its origin station at Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) nearing completion.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during a site inspection on Saturday, said 76% of excavation work at the BKC station is already done and tunnel construction is progressing rapidly. Accompanied by officials from the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), Vaishnaw also visited Panvel and Juinagar railway stations in Navi Mumbai to review parallel rail and freight infrastructure development. “The work at the BKC station is progressing very fast. The station wall and tunnel works are well underway,” he said. The multi-storey underground station at BKC will feature three levels below ground: B3 for train parking, B2 for operations, and B1 for passenger services. Vaishnaw described it as a “world-class station” and a key element of the ₹1.08 lakh crore corridor.
In Navi Mumbai, a new coaching terminal at Panvel is being developed to boost rail operations. The minister also reviewed the Panvel-Karjat suburban rail link and a dedicated freight corridor to decongest Mumbai’s rail network. “The freight corridor’s link to JNPT is progressing well and will improve logistics while freeing up passenger lines,” he added. Funded by the central government, the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, and a soft loan from Japan at 0.1% interest, the high-speed rail corridor will cover 508 km. The Gujarat section is expected to be ready by end-2027, and full operations are targeted for 2028.
Highlighting the broader vision behind the project, Vaishnaw said the bullet train represents not just transport reform but economic transformation. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis echoed this, calling the project a turning point for urban development and a symbol of India-Japan partnership.
