India’s first bullet train on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor will commence operations on August 15, 2027, in a phased manner. The inaugural run is planned on the Surat–Bilimora–Vapi stretch, before gradually extending to Ahmedabad, Thane and finally Mumbai, sharply cutting travel time and signalling a new era in Indian rail travel.
India’s long-awaited high-speed rail dream now has a firm date and a clear roadmap. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the country’s first bullet train will start operations on August 15, 2027, along the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor. The project, being implemented by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), will initially open in phases rather than as a full-route launch.
The first operational leg is planned between Surat and Bilimora, with the inaugural run now proposed over an extended 100 km stretch up to Vapi, reflecting faster-than-expected construction progress in Gujarat. Subsequent stages will open from Vapi to Surat, then Vapi to Ahmedabad, followed by Thane to Ahmedabad, culminating in full operations between Mumbai and Ahmedabad later in the decade.
Once fully commissioned, the 508 km corridor, designed for speeds up to 320 kmph, is expected to cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to a little over two hours, compared with the current 7–9 hours by conventional rail or road. The line will feature 12 stations, advanced Japanese Shinkansen technology and major engineering structures, including an undersea tunnel at Thane Creek.
Beyond speed, policymakers are pitching the bullet train as a catalyst for regional growth, improved connectivity and technology transfer. The corridor is expected to spur urban development around key nodes such as Surat, Vapi, Vadodara, Anand and Sabarmati, while also deepening India–Japan infrastructure cooperation.
Key highlights
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Phased rollout plan
The first section to open will be Surat–Bilimora, with the inaugural 100 km service proposed between Surat and Vapi, followed by Vapi–Surat, Vapi–Ahmedabad, Thane–Ahmedabad and finally the full Mumbai–Ahmedabad stretch.
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Launch date and corridor length
Operations are targeted to begin on August 15, 2027, on India’s first high-speed rail line, a 508 km corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad developed by NHSRCL with Japanese support.
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Speed, travel time and technology
Trains are being designed to run at up to 320 kmph using Shinkansen technology, potentially reducing end-to-end travel time to around two hours and offering airline-rivalling journey times on the busy western corridor.
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Infrastructure and construction progress
The project features 12 stations, extensive viaducts, river bridges and an undersea tunnel at Thane Creek, with several hundred kilometres of viaduct and track bed already completed and key stations like Surat in advanced construction stages.
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Economic and regional impact
The corridor is expected to boost economic activity across Maharashtra and Gujarat, enhance labour mobility, support new townships and logistics hubs along the route and position India more prominently on the global high-speed rail map.
Sources: Rediff, The Indian Express, All India Radio News, Financial Express, Moneycontrol, NDTV, Hindustan Times, India Today, GKToday, NHSRCL updates.
