- India's first bullet train will have its inaugural run by Aug 15, 2027
- The initial section will run from Surat to Bilimora, followed by Vapi to Surat
- The full corridor spans 508 km from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, running at 320 km/h
India's first bullet train will be prepared for its inaugural run by Aug. 15, 2027, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said during a Cabinet briefing on Thursday.
The first section will open from Surat to Bilimora, second section will open from Vapi to Surat, then from Vapi to Ahmedabad, and finally from Thane to Ahmedabad, Vaishnaw outlined.
Earlier in November, the Minister had said train will cover a 100 km distance between Surat and Vapi in Gujarat during its inaugural run.
The country's first 508-km long high-speed rail corridor is being constructed between Sabarmati (Ahmedabad) and Mumbai to operate a bullet train at 320 km per hour. The train will cover the entire distance in 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Initially proposed to be ready by December 2023, the foundation stone for the project was laid in 2017. However, land acquisition and other issues held up the project.
"The bullet train, in its inaugural run, will now cover 100 km between Surat and Vapi in August 2027. Earlier, the inaugural run was planned on a 50 km stretch between Surat and Billimora within the same deadline," Vaishnaw told reporters at the Rail Bhawan in New Delhi.
"The bullet train will cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in 1 hour 58 minutes while stopping at four stations. However, if it stops at all 12 stations, the entire distance will be covered in 2 hours and 17 minutes," the minister added.
