Latest update on Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor: 48% progress, 300 km viaduct done, tunnel breakthrough, electrification started & stations under construction.

Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: Progress & Key Updates (July 2025)

The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor—often dubbed India’s first bullet train—is moving forward at a brisk pace, with major construction milestones achieved and key systems planning entering its final phases.

Construction Progress & Financials

As of March 2025, the project has surpassed the 48 % physical completion mark, with nearly ₹71,000 crore expended on the ₹1.08 lakh crore initiative. All civil contracts across both Gujarat and Maharashtra have been finalised and awarded, and land acquisition along the 508 km corridor is fully complete.

Viaducts, Bridges & Stations

Significant structural work is advancing rapidly:

• Over 300 km of viaducts have been erected, using efficient full‑span launching methods that accelerate pace tenfold—the project has installed more than 6,455 full‑span units and 925 additional spans.
• In Gujarat, 16 out of 24 planned river bridges are now complete, with eight more under construction.
• Of the 12 stations along the corridor, five are fully finished, and three more are in the final stage of construction.
• The BKC station in Mumbai is shaping into an engineering marvel: located 32.5 metres underground, its foundation is being designed to support a 95 m‑high structure above .

Underground & Tunnel Works

A pivotal section of the project—the 21 km underground tunnel between BKC and Shilphata, including a 7 km stretch under Thane Creek—has seen substantial breakthroughs:

• On July 10, 2025, the first 2.7 km continuous tunnel was completed, representing a major achievement in the subterranean segment.
• Work continues on the remaining segment using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). An intermediate launch shaft has enabled dual‑end excavation; around 1.6 km has already been excavated from the Shilphata side.
• In parallel, three massive TBMs (tunnel‑boring machines)—including one with a 13.56 m diameter head—remain stuck at a Chinese port due to clearance delays, affecting the timeline for fully unleashing the tunnelling machines. NHSRCL insists the overall schedule remains unchanged for now.

Track Laying & Systems Work

Track installation is proceeding systematically:

• In Maharashtra, Larsen & Toubro has emerged as the lowest bidder for the final track‑installation package (T‑1), covering nearly 156.6 km from BKC to the Zaroli border.
• On the Gujarat side, packages T‑2 and T‑3 are already underway, handled by IRCON and L&T respectively.

Electrical systems and depots are progressing as well. The three depot locations in Thane, Surat, and Sabarmati are advancing through civil and systems work; electrification across the corridor is on schedule.

Trainsets & Timeline

Technology coordination with Japan is in focus:

• India will deploy Japanese E5 Shinkansen sets for initial trial runs, followed by E10 generation trains for full commercial operations. The E10 trains are scheduled for simultaneous launches in India and Japan around 2030.
• Indian-built prototypes, made through Make‑in‑India partners like ICF and BEML, are planned for delivery by late 2026 and will help customize trainsets for Indian conditions.

Initial trial operations are expected to begin on a 50 km stretch between Surat and Bilimora around 2026, with commercial services in Gujarat by late 2028, before full corridor service across Maharashtra by 2030.

Governance & Oversight

A parliamentary standing committee has flagged potential challenges—particularly related to cost overruns, supply chain bottlenecks, and limited domestic manufacturing—and has recommended enhanced oversight, local production under Make‑in‑India, and stakeholder coordination to ensure timely delivery.

The Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project remains ambitious but firmly on track, with several engineering milestones achieved in mid‑2025, swift progress on viaduct and station works, and systematic planning for trainsets and operations. Remaining challenges include tunnel‑boring equipment delays and ensuring all systems sync across states—but with focused oversight and international collaboration, India appears set to meet its high‑speed rail vision.

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