India's bullet train project sees costs soar, here's why
The cost of India's first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has shot up 83%, now totaling ₹1.98 lakh crore (up from ₹1.1 lakh crore).
Delays have led to a proposal for nearly ₹90,000 crore in additional funding, which the Railway Ministry is considering seeking.
The goal? Super-fast trains to cut travel time between the two cities.
The high-speed corridor will connect 12 stations
This high-speed corridor will link 12 stations, using Japan's Shinkansen technology; some trainsets will be Japan-made while others will be domestically manufactured.
Out of the 508km route, 21km will run underground and even include a cool undersea stretch at Thane Creek.
Funding and timeline for the ambitious project
As of March 2026 (article published March 6, 2026), substantial progress has been made on viaducts, piers and bridges, while tunnel excavation and other works remain ongoing.
No official opening date for the Surat-Bilimora section (50km) is given in the source, and no official full-line completion year is provided.
Japan's JICA is backing a big chunk of the funding with an ultra-low-interest loan over 50 years.