India's long-awaited bullet train project is approaching a major milestone, with the first operational section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor expected to begin services next year, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Wednesday.
The update comes as the Centre pushes ahead with plans to expand high-speed rail connectivity across western India, including a proposed Mumbai-Pune corridor that could slash travel time between the two cities to just 48 minutes.
Speaking in Pune, Vaishnaw said the country's first bullet train project is progressing rapidly and has helped India develop capabilities in high-speed rail construction and technology. He added that future corridors under consideration could reshape travel, trade and economic activity across Maharashtra and neighbouring states.
Among the most eye-catching proposals outlined by the Railway Minister is the Mumbai-Pune high-speed rail corridor.
According to Vaishnaw, the 170-kilometre route could reduce travel time between Maharashtra's financial capital and its largest educational and technology hub to just 48 minutes. The dramatic reduction in journey time is expected to boost business mobility, improve access to jobs and strengthen economic integration between the two cities.
He said faster connectivity would effectively transform Mumbai and Pune into a "twin-city" economic region, creating new opportunities for investment, industry and urban development.
Pune-Hyderabad travel time could fall to just 2 hours
The minister also highlighted the broader vision for India's future high-speed rail network.
Under the proposed expansion, the roughly 500-km journey between Pune and Hyderabad could be completed in around two hours and eight minutes, significantly reducing travel time between two major technology and industrial centres.
Vaishnaw said improved high-speed connectivity could help create a strong economic ecosystem linking Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Thane, Vapi and Hyderabad, strengthening business and logistics networks across western India.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project nears key milestone
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor remains India's flagship high-speed rail project and is expected to become the country's first operational bullet train service.
Vaishnaw said work on the corridor is advancing at a fast pace, with the first section scheduled to become operational next year. The project is expected to serve as a template for future high-speed rail networks planned across different parts of the country.
The minister said India now possesses the expertise and capability required to develop world-class high-speed rail infrastructure, paving the way for additional corridors in the coming years.
Maharashtra seeing railway investment worth nearly Rs 2 lakh crore
Apart from the bullet train update, Vaishnaw said railway projects worth nearly Rs 2 lakh crore are currently underway across Maharashtra.
He highlighted a proposal to strengthen freight connectivity between major ports and inland regions by linking Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and the upcoming Vadhvan Port with Vidarbha and Marathwada through dedicated freight infrastructure aligned with the Samruddhi Mahamarg corridor.
According to the minister, the proposed freight network would improve connectivity across a significant portion of Maharashtra while helping reduce logistics costs and supporting industrial growth.
He also said the planned East-West Dedicated Freight Corridor would improve access for North Maharashtra and provide stronger connectivity to ports on the western coast.
Direct Pune-Nashik rail corridor dropped
Vaishnaw also confirmed that the proposed direct Pune-Nashik semi-high-speed rail corridor will not move ahead in its originally planned form after technical assessments found the alignment unfeasible.
Instead, railway authorities have approved an alternative route connecting Pune, Ahilyanagar, Shirdi and Nashik.
The revised alignment is expected to improve regional connectivity while addressing engineering and feasibility challenges associated with the original proposal. The minister said portions of the project have already been sanctioned and work has commenced on approved sections.
Pune rail capacity set for major expansion
The Railway Minister said a comprehensive master plan has been prepared to significantly increase Pune's railway capacity over the next three years.
Infrastructure works are underway at several stations, including Pune, Shivajinagar, Khadki, Hadapsar, Ghorpadi, Fursungi and Alandi. Pune station, which currently operates with six platforms, is being expanded to 12 platforms as part of the capacity enhancement programme.
Maintenance activities currently handled at Pune station are also being shifted to other locations, including Ghorpadi, Fursungi and Alandi, to free up operational space and improve efficiency.
A new mega terminal being developed at Alandi is expected to handle up to 35 trains daily. Once ongoing projects are completed, Pune's overall railway capacity is expected to nearly double, allowing the operation of around 20 additional trains and improving connectivity with major regions across Maharashtra and the rest of the country.
With ANI inputs