Bullet train: Gujarat records major progress, Surat-Vapi civil works complete

Ahmedabad: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has made substantial progress, with 452 km of pier construction and 356 km of girder work completed on the 508-km bullet train corridor, the ministry of railways told the Lok Sabha.

The corridor, connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad through 12 stations, has also seen 209 km of track bed laid and 190 km of overhead equipment (OHE) masts installed. The entire 1,389.5 hectares required for the project has been acquired, all statutory clearances obtained and 1,651 utilities shifted.

The details were provided by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in response to a question by MP from Sangrur in Punjab, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer.

Work on the approximately 21 km under-sea tunnel has commenced, with 4.8 km of tunnelling between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra completed. On the 97 km Surat-Vapi section, all civil works, including river bridges, have been completed, while 86% of the track bed has been laid, the minister stated in his reply.

Gujarat has emerged as a major area of progress. Structural works at the Sabarmati, Ahmedabad and Vadodara stations have been completed, with finishing and track works underway. At Bharuch, structural work is complete and finishing activities are progressing. Track work has also begun at Surat, Bilimora and Bharuch.