Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has established a notable online presence by frequently sharing captivating glimpses of railway stations and keeping the public informed about ongoing developments in the Indian railway system. His latest social media update, posted on X, featured a spectacular video highlighting the Mumbai-Ahmedabad train corridor, commonly known as the ‘Bullet train.’ This video showcased the state-of-the-art features of this ambitious train project, offering a glimpse into the future of rail transportation in India.
Spanning a substantial distance of 508 kilometers between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the Bullet train aspires to achieve an impressive maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour. This advancement is anticipated to significantly slash the travel time between the two cities to just two hours. The project involves the construction of an extensive network of 24 river bridges and 28 steel bridges along the designated route, further emphasizing the scale and complexity of this transformative initiative.
The video, curated by the Railways Minister, aptly described the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train corridor as “a marvel of world-class engineering” and the “future of India.” In his accompanying message, Mr. Vaishnaw stated, ”We weave reality not dreams. Stay tuned for Bullet train in Modi 3.0!” This alludes to the transformative impact the project is expected to have under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
सपने नहीं हकीकत बुनते हैं!
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 12, 2024
Stay tuned for #BulletTrain in Modi 3.0!#ModiKiGuarantee pic.twitter.com/0wEL5UvaY8
Since the initiation of construction in November 2021, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor has been making commendable progress. Last year, the Railway Minister announced a significant milestone: the completion of the first section of the Bullet train in India, a 50-kilometer stretch between Bilimora and Surat in Gujarat, projected to be ready by August 2026.
Once operational, the Railways plans to run 35 bullet trains, undertaking around 70 trips per day. This operational scale is envisioned to increase to 105 trains by the year 2050. The ambitious project is projected to cater to a substantial passenger base, with an estimated 1.6 crore people expected to travel by the Bullet train annually once operations commence.
The video update elicited positive reactions from the audience, with one user expressing eagerness, stating, ”We are eagerly waiting for this sir.” Another commented, ”Looking forward to witnessing this transformative journey unfold,” reflecting the anticipation and enthusiasm surrounding this groundbreaking transportation initiative.
Noteworthy is the financial aspect of the project, with an estimated cost of ₹1.08 lakh crore. The commitment from the central government involves providing ₹10,000 crores, while Gujarat and Maharashtra are contributing ₹5,000 crores each. The remaining funding is anticipated to be secured through a loan from Japan, showcasing the collaborative and global nature of this venture, with a minimal 0.1 percent interest rate.
