Gujarat Bullet Train Progress: Govt Data Shows 61% Work, Railway Claims 80% Completion

The Ahmedabad-Mumbai High-Speed Rail Corridor, popularly known as the Bullet Train project, has reached an advanced stage of construction, but differing progress figures cited by the government have raised questions over its pace.

According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the 508-km project had achieved 61% physical progress up to June. However, during a review of the project in July, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reportedly stated that around 80% of the work had been completed.

The difference between the two figures has created confusion over the actual progress of the ambitious project.

₹91,000 Crore Spent In Nine Years

The project, which was launched in 2017, has already completed nearly nine years of construction. According to the figures cited in the report, around ₹90,966 crore has been spent on the project until June against its original estimated cost of ₹1.08 lakh crore.

More than 350 km of viaducts and around 450 km of piers have reportedly been completed. Work on track beds, electrification, tunnels, bridges over rivers and stations is also progressing.

Nearly 90% of the corridor is planned to be elevated.

39% Work Remains

According to the government data showing 61% physical progress, 39% of the project is still incomplete.

The first section between Surat and Bilimora is targeted to become operational in August 2027. The remaining sections are expected to be opened in phases, with the entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor targeted for completion by the end of 2029.

This leaves around three years to complete the remaining 39% of the work.

Spending Raises Another Question

The project's original budget was fixed at ₹1.08 lakh crore. With ₹90,966 crore already spent, around ₹17,034 crore would remain from the original allocation.

The report raises questions over whether the remaining work, particularly major components such as tunnels and other civil structures, can be completed within the remaining budget.

Based on the average expenditure so far, the cost of completing the remaining 39% could potentially be substantially higher than the balance available under the original estimate.

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) therefore faces the dual challenge of completing the remaining construction within the targeted timeline while also managing the project's escalating expenditure.