Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: Progress and Details
The construction work for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is underway in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronic and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, informed the Lok Sabha that 1389.5 hectares of land have been acquired for the project.
So far, 350 km of Pier Foundation, 316 km of Pier Construction, 221 km of Girder Casting, and 190 km of Girder Launching have been completed. The undersea tunnel work, approximately 21 km long, has also started.
The project spans 508 km with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati. The sanctioned cost of the project is Rs 1,08,000 crore.
Vaishnaw mentioned that the bullet train project is complex and technology-intensive, designed with Japanese Railway support to meet Indian requirements and climatic conditions. Timelines for completion will be clearer after finishing all associated works.
The project, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan’s then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2017, is monitored by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). NHSRCL was incorporated in 2016 to finance, construct, maintain, and manage the High-Speed Rail Corridor in India.
Doubts Revealed
Bullet Train -: A bullet train is a very fast train that can travel at high speeds, much faster than regular trains. It is designed to reduce travel time between cities.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad -: Mumbai and Ahmedabad are two big cities in India. Mumbai is in the state of Maharashtra, and Ahmedabad is in the state of Gujarat.
508 km -: 508 km is the distance the bullet train will cover between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. It is about the same as traveling from Delhi to Jaipur and back.
12 stations -: Stations are places where trains stop to pick up and drop off passengers. There will be 12 such stops between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli -: These are regions in India. Gujarat and Maharashtra are states, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a union territory.
Ashwini Vaishnaw -: Ashwini Vaishnaw is a minister in the Indian government. He is responsible for railways and other important areas.
1389.5 hectares -: A hectare is a unit of area used to measure land. 1389.5 hectares is a large amount of land, about the size of 1389 football fields.
PM Modi -: PM Modi is the Prime Minister of India. His full name is Narendra Modi, and he is the leader of the country.
Shinzo Abe -: Shinzo Abe was the Prime Minister of Japan. He worked with PM Modi to start the bullet train project.
Japanese Railway -: Japanese Railway refers to the railway companies in Japan that are known for their advanced and fast trains.
NHSRCL -: NHSRCL stands for National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited. It is the organization in India responsible for building the bullet train.
Rs 1,08,000 crore -: This is the total cost of the bullet train project. Rs stands for Indian Rupees, and 1,08,000 crore is a very large amount of money.