Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the first operational section of India’s first bullet train is set to open next year, making a big step towards high-speed rail in the world.The opening of the first operational section of India’s first bullet train is expected next year, as announced by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, taking a significant step toward high-speed rail in the country.
In his keynote address at HYSEA GCCS & IT Roundtable in Hyderabad on Saturday, Vaishnaw commented that Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (HSR) Corridor is moving at a fast pace. The first one will link Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat, and will be the first operational bullet train line in the country.
“Dedication of the remaining parts of the corridor will be in phases,” the minister said. Vapi-Surat line, Vapi-Ahmedabad line and Ahmedabad-Thane line will be added next and Ahmedabad-Mumbai will be added after the Ahmedabad-Thane line.
Highlighting India’s technological capability and expertise in building and running high speed rail, Vaishnaw pointed out that now this can be done in the country. The bullet train project would not only cut travel time but would also increase the region’s connectivity and foster economic growth and mobility between major cities, he said.
The Railway Minister also announced the Centre’s plan to further increase the number of high-speed corridors beyond the Mumbai-Ahmedabad path. He said that it was his intention to build three new trains corridors from Hyderabad to Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru.
These proposed corridors will help to make Hyderabad a major league Transform Railway Station hub in southern India and boost economic and commercial connectivity in western and southern India, Vaishnaw said. Hyper-train extension will contribute much to support the increasing infrastructure development and long term economic growth of India.