New Delhi: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced that India is set to receive its first bullet train section on August 15, 2025, marking a major milestone in the country’s high-speed rail ambitions.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, the minister said the first operational stretch of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor—a 47-km section between Surat and Bilimora—will be inaugurated on Independence Day next year. This will kick off the phased rollout of the 508-km corridor, which aims to reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad from over seven hours to about two hours.
“The bullet train will be ready in phases. The first section to open will be from Surat to Bilimora. After that, Vapi to Surat will open, followed by Vapi to Ahmedabad. Then Thane to Ahmedabad will open, and finally Mumbai to Ahmedabad,” Vaishnaw said, adding that the full corridor is expected to be completed by August 15, 2027.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor is one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects and is expected to revolutionise inter-city travel by introducing world-class high-speed rail standards. Once completed, the corridor will connect major cities and stations including Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane and Mumbai.
The railway minister also noted that significant progress has already been made, with major civil and systems work completed across several sections of the project.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train Announcement
In another major announcement, Vaishnaw said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon flag off the first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train connecting Kolkata and Guwahati.
According to the minister, the sleeper train service between Howrah (West Bengal) and Guwahati (Assam) will offer fares substantially lower than air travel, making long-distance overnight journeys more affordable.
“The services will become operational in the next 15–20 days, possibly around January 18 or 19. We have requested the Prime Minister, and everything is clear. The exact date will be announced in the next two to three days,” Vaishnaw said.
The announcements underline the government’s push to modernise Indian Railways and expand high-speed and premium rail connectivity across the country.
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