NEW DELHI: The progress of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai High Speed Rail or the first Bullet Train project is barely 30% till last month. The government has set the target to start the trial run between Surat and Billimora section in Gujarat in August 2026 and it expects the entire stretch between Ahmedabad and Mumbai to be operational in 2027.
The foundation stone for the project was laid in September 2017. The project has been delayed due to several reasons, including the slow pace of land acquisition in Maharashtra during the MVA government under Udhav Thackeray and delay in tendering of works in the stretch falling under the state.
Sources said the construction companies and the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), the entity implementing the project, are trying to reduce the timeline.
TOI has learnt that the total expenditure in the project so far stands at Rs 37,000 crore. The financial progress of the project is around 31%. The NHSRCL is yet to invite the tenders for rolling stock or the trains. Sources said the tender for this will be floated this year.
Officials said there is rigorous monitoring of the project by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and even the Japanese side is regularly taking stock of the progress. Recently a high level delegation led by the special advisor to Japanese PM also visited the sites to see the progress.
Recently, Vaishnaw had said that there has been remarkable progress in the project after change of government in Maharashtra. Over 98% of the required land has been acquired in the state.
The NHSRCL has maintained that the cost of the project would be known once land acquisition is complete and all contracts, including for the trains, are bid out.
The foundation stone for the project was laid in September 2017. The project has been delayed due to several reasons, including the slow pace of land acquisition in Maharashtra during the MVA government under Udhav Thackeray and delay in tendering of works in the stretch falling under the state.
Sources said the construction companies and the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), the entity implementing the project, are trying to reduce the timeline.
TOI has learnt that the total expenditure in the project so far stands at Rs 37,000 crore. The financial progress of the project is around 31%. The NHSRCL is yet to invite the tenders for rolling stock or the trains. Sources said the tender for this will be floated this year.
Officials said there is rigorous monitoring of the project by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and even the Japanese side is regularly taking stock of the progress. Recently a high level delegation led by the special advisor to Japanese PM also visited the sites to see the progress.
Recently, Vaishnaw had said that there has been remarkable progress in the project after change of government in Maharashtra. Over 98% of the required land has been acquired in the state.
The NHSRCL has maintained that the cost of the project would be known once land acquisition is complete and all contracts, including for the trains, are bid out.