NEW DELHI: Satish Agnihotri, chairman and managing director of the National High Speed Rail Corridor (NHSRCL), stated on Tuesday that India’s first bullet train will be operating in 2027 and testing will begin in 2026, and that the country’s first bullet train station in Surat will NHSRCL chairman says India’s first bullet train will be operational in 2027.be inaugurated by 2023.
“Though we will perform a trial between Surat and Bilimora in 2026, we will begin bullet train operations between these two stations in 2027,” he added, adding that “Surat station is projected to be ready for operations by September, 2023.”
The distance between Surat and Bilimora is 50 kilometres.
According to NHSRCL authorities, civil work is progressing at a rapid pace, with four of the total 12 stations (Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, and Bharuch) expected to be completed by December 2024.
Officials have stated that in addition to these four stations, a 237-kilometer viaduct will be built. A viaduct is a form of bridge that supports a long-elevated railway or road using a sequence of arches, piers, or columns.
“Our first priority is to finish and launch bullet train service on this route. Japan is committed to maintaining and providing updated technology “Satoshi Suzuki, Japan’s ambassador to India, told the media in Navsari on India’s bullet train project.
“Our most recent technology is the E5 Shinkansen, but we’re offering an improved version that takes into account India’s weather and pollution. The bullet train’s coaches will be antiseismic “he stated
Pile-building activities pile caps, open foundations, well foundations, piers, pier caps is in progress at 125 km length, an NHSRCL official said.
Out of 128 foundations at the Surat depot, 118 have been finished, while construction in the Sabarmati depot was awarded on February 4, this year. By August of this year, the passenger terminal hub at Sabarmati, which will integrate high-speed rail, metro, bus rapid transit, and two railway stations, should be ready.
“Some railway coaches will be transported as whole coaches for the first bullet train, while others will be assembled in India,” Agnihotri said.
“The technology is built on bullet train a crash avoidance system that incorporates the most up-to-date signalling and coach designs to ensure that the train is accident-free,” he added.
When the civil work reaches its peak, which is scheduled in June, Agnihotri estimates that one lakh people will be employed. “The project is currently in progress has generated around 20,000 employments,” Agnihotri said.
However, due to land acquisition challenges in Maharashtra, the project has run into difficulties. The bullet train’s maximum operational speed is 320 kmph and the route is 508.17 kilometres long.
The Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train would stop at 12 stations along its route, eight in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra. Mumbai (BKC), Thane, Virar, and Boisar are among the Maharashtra stations. While 98.7% and 100% of land has been bought in Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, respectively, only 68.7% of land in Maharashtra has been acquired.