Mumbai’s long-pending bullet train corridor to Nagpur is regaining attention after years of stagnation, with fresh momentum building in the wake of the newly launched Nagpur–Pune Vande Bharat Express.Officials have confirmed that the high-speed rail link between Mumbai and Nagpur is back under active consideration.
Conceived as a transformative project to complement the Samruddhi Highway, the line promises to cut travel time from nearly 12 hours by road to just over 2 hours by train, with trains expected to cruise at 330–350 km/h.Senior state officials said the project is currently being reviewed with the Railway Ministry and the Centre. Preliminary assessments suggest that close to 80 per cent of preparatory work could proceed without hurdles, though land acquisition and tunnelling remain complex tasks requiring coordinated effort. Experts emphasise that once approvals are cleared, progress could be accelerated given that technical studies and route mapping have already been completed.
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The proposed line spans 749 km, traversing 10 districts and 14 stations, with a 17.5-metre-wide track running alongside the Samruddhi Mahamarg. Designed to carry up to 750 passengers per train, the line will include 15 tunnels, including a 21 km undersea stretch near Mumbai the first of its kind in India. Land acquisition of nearly 1,245 hectares is also underway, though officials acknowledge this as one of the project’s most significant hurdles.Construction activity under the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has already generated jobs in ancillary services, logistics, and supply chains. Bridges, tunnels, and foundations for several stations have seen partial progress, with major developments reported around Thane, Virar, Boisar and Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex terminal. Officials noted that the mega project is expected to scale up direct and indirect employment once civil and electrical contracts move into advanced stages.
For Maharashtra, the bullet train project is not just about speed but about repositioning itself as a hub of next-generation infrastructure. Planners argue that a seamless high-speed link between Mumbai and Nagpur would significantly boost investment opportunities across tier-2 and tier-3 cities, open up hinterland markets, and reduce logistics costs for industries.Urban development specialists highlight that pairing the line with the Samruddhi Highway presents an integrated model of sustainable transport. By reducing dependence on road-based vehicles for long-haul travel, the corridor has the potential to lower carbon emissions while encouraging eco-friendly transit in the state.
