India’s first high speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has crossed the halfway mark, with construction gaining visible momentum across sections.
The 508 km project, being implemented by National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited, is now estimated to be around 55 to 60 percent complete. Overall progress stood at around 56 percent in 2025 and has since advanced further with accelerated construction. Designed for speeds of up to 320 km per hour, the corridor is expected to cut travel time between the two cities to nearly two hours once operational.
Civil Works Nearing Completion Across Large Sections
A significant portion of the project’s core infrastructure is now in place. Officials say more than 430 km of pier work has been completed, along with over 340 km of viaduct construction.
The viaduct forms the main elevated track structure of the corridor. Several river bridges, including key crossings in Gujarat, have either been completed or are in advanced stages. These include major steel and prestressed concrete bridges being constructed across rivers and railway lines.
In addition, the majority of the planned steel bridges along the corridor have been completed, marking steady progress in some of the most complex structural components.
The scale of civil work completed so far indicates that the project has moved beyond initial groundwork and into an advanced stage of structural development.
Gujarat Section Leads Execution
Construction progress has been fastest in Gujarat, where a large part of the alignment is already built.
Most of the piers and girders in the state have been completed, with long stretches of viaduct now visible on the ground. Stations such as Surat and Vadodara are also under rapid construction, along with depots and maintenance facilities.
In a recent milestone, all eight piers of the Sabarmati river bridge have been completed, with superstructure work now progressing.
Officials attribute this pace to early land acquisition and fewer logistical challenges compared to urban sections.
Maharashtra Work Accelerates After Initial Delays
Work in Maharashtra had slowed in earlier phases due to land acquisition issues, but construction has picked up pace over the past two years.
The underground station at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai is nearing completion of excavation. This station will serve as the starting point of the corridor.
Tunnel construction is also underway in the state, including the undersea tunnel section, which is among the most complex parts of the project. Full scale tunnel boring using advanced machines is expected to accelerate in 2026, marking a major step in completing the underground Mumbai section.
The Maharashtra stretch continues to be technically demanding due to dense urban areas and underground engineering requirements.
Tunnel and Bridge Construction Progressing Steadily
The project includes around 21 km of tunnels, of which approximately 5 km has been completed so far.
A 7 km undersea tunnel near Mumbai is currently under construction and is expected to be a key engineering milestone for the project.
In addition, more than 17 major river bridges are being built along the route. Many of these have reached advanced stages, while some are nearing completion.
Shift Towards Track and Systems Installation
The project has now entered a crucial phase with the beginning of track and systems work.
Installation of the Shinkansen style slab track has started in completed sections. Over 180 km of track bed has been completed, with slab manufacturing and installation underway across multiple stretches.
Electrification work is also progressing, with thousands of overhead equipment masts installed along the corridor.
Noise barriers and track bed construction are underway simultaneously. This phase marks the transition from civil construction to operational readiness.
Station Construction Advances Across Corridor
Progress is also visible at station sites along the corridor.
Eight out of the 12 planned stations have completed their foundation work, with superstructure construction now underway at several key locations including Surat and Vadodara.
The development of stations is being carried out alongside track and system installation to ensure timely readiness for operations.
Timeline Becomes Clearer After Delays
The project had earlier faced delays due to land acquisition challenges and the complexity of construction in urban areas.
Land acquisition for the entire corridor has now been completed, removing one of the biggest hurdles that had slowed progress in the initial years.
With most of these issues now resolved, timelines have become clearer. Officials expect a partial section, likely between Surat and Vapi, to be operational by 2027.
The full corridor is currently projected to be completed by 2028 or 2029, depending on progress in the remaining sections.
Rising Costs and Remaining Challenges
The cost of the project has increased over time, largely due to delays and rising construction expenses. It is now estimated at nearly ₹2 lakh crore.
Key challenges that remain include the completion of tunnel work in Maharashtra, coordination of large scale engineering activities, and timely execution of system installations.
Despite these challenges, construction activity has intensified across the corridor.
Project Moves Into Decisive Phase
With major civil structures largely completed and systems installation underway, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project has entered a decisive phase.
The corridor is also expected to see the rollout of India’s first indigenous bullet train around 2027, marking a step towards domestic high speed rail capability.
The project is part of a broader push to expand high speed rail in the country, with plans for additional corridors under consideration.
The focus is now shifting towards completing remaining complex sections and preparing the corridor for operations. While full completion is still a few years away, the project is now firmly on track, with visible progress across most of its alignment.
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