India’s first high-speed rail project has crossed a critical milestone, with the National High Speed Rail Corporation confirming that 70% of the elevated viaduct between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is now complete.
The 508-kilometre corridor, which will cut travel time between the two cities from 8 hours to under 3 hours, has seen a dramatic acceleration in construction pace over the past 18 months.
What Changed
The appointment of a new project director in late 2024 and streamlined land acquisition processes in Gujarat removed the two biggest bottlenecks. Japanese construction teams from Shimizu Corporation have been working round the clock across 11 active construction zones.
The first test run is expected in September 2026 with commercial operations targeting a June 2027 launch.