New Delhi: India’s first bullet train service on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor will begin phased operations from August 15, 2027, with the Surat-Bilimora section in Gujarat set to become the first operational stretch, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced.

The minister said the country’s first high-speed rail project has reached an advanced stage of construction, with nearly 80 per cent of the work completed. The corridor will be opened in phases before the entire 508-km route becomes operational.

Surat-Bilimora to be first operational section

The first phase of commercial operations will cover the Surat-Bilimora stretch in Gujarat from August 15, 2027.

Following its launch, the remaining sections of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor will be opened progressively, enabling passengers to benefit from the project before completion of the full route.

The planned rollout includes the following sections:

  • Surat-Bilimora
  • Vapi-Surat
  • Vapi-Ahmedabad
  • Ahmedabad-Thane
  • Ahmedabad-Mumbai

The phased commissioning is intended to facilitate early operations while construction continues on the remaining stretches.

Project nearing completion

According to Vaishnaw, nearly 80 per cent of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has already been completed.

In a post shared by the Railway Ministry, the minister said the project has entered its next phase and will begin operations section by section starting next year.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor is India’s first dedicated high-speed rail project and is expected to significantly reduce travel time between the two major commercial centres.

Besides improving passenger connectivity, the project is expected to support economic growth, technological advancement and regional development along the corridor.

Expansion planned beyond Mumbai-Ahmedabad

The Railway Minister also outlined plans for additional high-speed rail corridors across southern India.

He said the Centre is planning three new bullet train corridors centred on Hyderabad, connecting the city with:

  • Pune
  • Chennai
  • Bengaluru

In addition, a Hyderabad-Mumbai high-speed rail corridor has also been proposed to substantially reduce travel time between the two cities.

According to Vaishnaw, these projects are expected to improve connectivity across Telangana and neighbouring states.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved three high-speed rail corridors linked to Hyderabad, which would enhance transportation infrastructure and benefit several districts in Telangana.

Railway station redevelopment underway

The minister also highlighted the government’s broader railway modernisation programme.

Under the Nav-Nirmaan initiative, 261 railway stations across the country are currently being redeveloped with upgraded passenger amenities and modern infrastructure.

In Telangana, major stations undergoing redevelopment include:

  • Secunderabad
  • Begumpet
  • HITEC City

The Centre has allocated Rs 5,400 crore for railway infrastructure projects in Telangana, covering station modernisation and connectivity improvements.

Boost to high-speed rail network

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project marks a significant milestone in India’s railway modernisation efforts.

Once fully operational, the corridor is expected to introduce advanced high-speed rail technology, shorten travel time, improve inter-city connectivity and stimulate economic activity along the route.

The planned expansion of the bullet train network to additional corridors also reflects the government’s long-term strategy to strengthen high-speed rail connectivity across different regions of the country.