Gujarat’s high-speed rail corridor received renewed national attention this week as the country’s leadership reviewed progress on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, signalling a fresh push to accelerate India’s first high-speed mobility network. The visit to the under-construction station in Surat underscored both the scale of engineering underway and the wider potential of the project to reshape regional travel, economic activity and low-carbon urban growth.
During the review, teams working along the corridor briefed national authorities on construction speed, safety protocols and adherence to targeted timelines. Site engineers in the Antroli area, where one of the major stations is rising, shared updates on viaduct construction, river-bridge works and the deployment of mechanised systems designed to minimise delays. According to officials, the corridor has crossed significant structural milestones, with a large share of viaduct and bridge installation moving towards completion. Workers from various engineering divisions also discussed their experiences of operating advanced robotics and automated welding systems at factories supporting the rail line. A senior engineer explained that the project has allowed teams from across India to work with global-standard fabrication technologies. These methods, commonly used in high-speed rail projects worldwide, are helping the corridor meet stringent precision requirements while reducing material waste—an aspect experts say contributes to sustainable infrastructure development.
Project managers emphasised the importance of a rigorous design and verification cycle, noting that each segment undergoes multiple rounds of assessment before execution. “The aim is to avoid repeated experiments and instead document learnings so future corridors can benefit,” an official said, highlighting discussions around creating a consolidated knowledge manual for upcoming high-speed rail initiatives. The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor spans approximately 508 kilometres and links major urban and industrial centres including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, Thane and Mumbai. Once operational, the journey between the two metros is expected to reduce to around two hours, offering an alternative to both long-haul road travel and short-haul aviation. Urban mobility experts note that high-speed rail could support more sustainable inter-city travel by shifting passengers away from carbon-intensive modes, provided the power supply transitions towards cleaner sources over time.
Nearly 85% of the route is being built on elevated viaducts to minimise land disturbance and enhance safety. As per project data shared during the review, over 320 kilometres of viaduct have already been completed, alongside substantial progress on major river bridges. The Surat–Bilimora stretch, a 47-kilometre section, has advanced the furthest, with civil works and track-bed preparation nearing readiness. Beyond transport efficiency, planners expect the corridor to stimulate broader regional development, attracting investment and improving connectivity between emerging industrial clusters. Stakeholders believe the project could also serve as a benchmark for future high-speed routes, helping Indian cities integrate faster, safer and more climate-aligned travel options.
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