When will India get its first Bullet Train? How is Japan helping fulfill this long-awaited dream?

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, backed by Japanese technology and funding, is set to launch in Gujarat by December 2027. This 508-km project will slash travel time, boost tourism, and create jobs, marking a transformative leap in India’s infrastructure and Indo-Japanese collaboration.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday traveled in a bullet train from Tokyo to Sendai along with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Both leaders shared pictures of this historic trip on social media.

The dream of a bullet train was born in the mind of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the year 2007, when he rode in Japan's Shinkansen train as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. That experience impressed him so much that he resolved to bring bullet trains to India too.

PM Modi's bullet train dream: Gujarat will give a historic gift in 2027.

Now twenty years later, by December 2027, Gujarat is going to become the first state in the country where a bullet train will run. This project is a great example of the India-Japan partnership.

Current status of the project

The total length of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed ​​Rail Project is 508 km, out of which 352 km is in Gujarat and Dadra Nagar Haveli and 156 km in Maharashtra. So far, construction of 317 km of viaduct has been completed, pillars have been installed in 396 km, and bridges have been built on 17 rivers. Structural work of all eight stations in Gujarat has been completed, and interior decoration work is now underway.

Technical cooperation and future plans

Japan will provide the latest signaling technology for the project and also provide E5 series Shinkansen trains. The Gujarat section is expected to be completed by December 2027, while the entire corridor will be operational by 2029. 12 theme-based stations are being built in this project, including eight stations in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra.

Impact on economy and employment

This project will not only reduce travel time but will also accelerate employment generation and economic growth. It will boost tourism and give new impetus to industrial development. This initiative of PM Modi will bring India's infrastructure sector closer to global standards and will usher in a new revolution of modern transportation in the country.