Work on India’s Bullet Train project is going on at a fast pace. Recently, Railways had put up a picture of a bullet train in its office, due to which it was claimed that it is the picture of the real bullet train which is going to run in India next year. Later the Railways clarified that the picture was just an illustration and did not show the real bullet train. The entire country is eagerly waiting for the launch of this train, which has been designed to run at a speed of 320 kmph. This will be the country’s first underwater train service running between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. For the first time in India, a train will pass under the sea.
Distance of 508 km will be covered in just 2 hours
India’s first bullet train will cover the 508 km distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just two hours – a journey that currently takes more than seven hours. This high-speed train running at a speed of 320 kmph will complete this route in just 127 minutes. During the journey between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, the train will stop at 12 stations, including Mumbai (BKC), Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.
When will the bullet train start running? What is the cost per kilometer?
According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, India’s first bullet train is set to hit the tracks on August 15, 2027. When the project began in 2017, its estimated budget was around ₹1.10 lakh crore; However, this figure was later increased to ₹1.25 lakh crore. This means that every kilometer of this project will cost ₹212.44 crore.
Bullet train will pass through 53 bridges
Japan’s next generation E10 Shinkansen bullet train will run on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. Between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the train will pass over 25 bridges on its way – of which 21 are in Gujarat and 4 in Maharashtra. The entire project includes 28 steel bridges, while 25 bridges are built over rivers.
Bullet train will run 21 km underground
During its journey, the bullet train will cover a distance of 21 km underground. Additionally, it will pass through tunnels carved into the mountains on eight separate occasions. This mountain tunnel is located in Palghar district of Maharashtra, while a similar tunnel is located in Valsad district of Gujarat.
India’s first undersea rail tunnel
As part of the Bullet Train project, for the first time in India a train will run under the sea. A 21 km long tunnel is currently being built for this special part of the project. The initial 7 km portion of this tunnel will pass directly under the sea level. Tunnel construction work is in full swing near Thane in Mumbai. With the help of NATM machinery, a 5 km long stretch of the tunnel has been completed. To construct the remaining 16 km stretch, Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) have been procured from China. Inside this tunnel, there will be a pipe-like structure with a diameter of 13.1 meters, through which the train will pass.
Current status of Bullet Train Project
Under the Bullet Train Project, construction of all eight stations in Gujarat has been completed. Work is going on at a fast pace in Thane, Virar and Boisar of Maharashtra. Excavation work at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) is almost complete, and the 4.8 km long stretch between Ghansoli and Shilphata has already been constructed. Of the 25 river bridges planned for this route, 17 have been completed.
How much will the fare be?
No information regarding Bullet Train fares has been released yet; Railways has not given any official information in this regard. The Railway Minister has already said that the fare of Bullet Train will be decided keeping in mind the middle class. Therefore, it is expected that the ticket fare will be similar to the fare of Rajdhani Express running on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. It is believed that the fare can be fixed between ₹ 4,000 to ₹ 5,000.
