Mumbai–Nagpur High-Speed Rail Back on Agenda After Vande Bharat Launch
Mumbai–Nagpur High-Speed Rail Back on Agenda After Vande Bharat Launch
With the Nagpur–Pune Vande Bharat Express flagged off by PM Modi, discussions around the long-pending Mumbai–Nagpur bullet train project gain fresh momentum.
The launch of the Vande Bharat Express between Nagpur (Ajni) and Pune on August 10 has reignited discussions about the ambitious Mumbai–Nagpur High-Speed Rail project. Once seen as a game-changer for connectivity in Maharashtra, the plan has been on hold for nearly three and a half years. Now, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reaffirming its importance, the mega project could return to the government’s active agenda.
Fadnavis Signals Push Forward
Speaking at an event in Nagpur, CM Fadnavis said that the project, planned alongside the Samruddhi Highway, is under review with the Centre and the Railway Ministry. The proposed high-speed line would allow trains to run at 330–350 km/h, cutting Mumbai–Nagpur travel time to just 2–2.15 hours.
“The Ministry has already studied the route, and while 78% of work can move swiftly, the remaining 22% requires joint efforts,” Fadnavis noted, adding that decisions on next steps will be taken soon.
Project Highlights
- Total length: 749 km
- Track width: 17.5 m along Samruddhi Highway
- Passenger capacity: 750
- Max speed: 330–350 km/h
- Travel time: ~2 to 2.15 hours
- Connectivity: 10 districts, 14 stations, 15 tunnels
- Land acquisition: 1245.61 hectares
Construction Progress
According to updates from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL):
- Stations: Out of 12 planned stations, foundation work is complete at eight sites in Gujarat (Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati). In Maharashtra, Thane, Virar, and Boisar are underway. At Mumbai’s BKC terminal, excavation is nearly finished and base slab casting has begun.
- Bridges: 17 river bridges have been completed; work is ongoing at four major bridges each in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
- Tunnels: The only tunnel in Gujarat is complete. In Maharashtra, execution of the ambitious 21 km undersea tunnel has started, along with a completed 4 km stretch between Ghansoli and Shilphata.
Officials say the project has already generated significant direct and indirect employment through construction, supply chains, and services. However, they caution that final timelines and costs can only be estimated after complex civil, track, electrical, and signaling works are advanced.
If revived, the Mumbai–Nagpur high-speed line would not only complement the Samruddhi Highway but also position Maharashtra as a hub of cutting-edge rail infrastructure, reducing long-haul travel to just a fraction of current times.
