“Complete the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train by 2022-23, when India marks 75 years of independence”

At the bullet train ground-breaking in Ahmedabad on 14 September 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Hindi that his wish and dream was to complete the rail work by 2022-23, when India marks 75 years of independence. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in 2025 that land-acquisition delays in Maharashtra had affected the project until 2021, and that the full Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor was expected by December 2029. In July 2026 he said the first section, Surat–Bilimora, would open in 2027 and the project was nearly 80% complete.

“मन में इच्‍छा है सपना है, जब आजादी के 75 साल हों 2022-23 में ये हम रेल का काम पूरा करें और जैसा आबे-सान ने कहा हम दोनों बैठकर के उसमें यात्रा करके उसका उद्दघाटन करें।”

1. 14 Sept 2017 ·Prime Minister's Office (pmindia.gov.in)Verified source
   PM Modi and Japanese PM Abe lay foundation stone for India's first High Speed Rail project ↗
2. 23 Jul 2025 ·Deccan HeraldVerified source
   Entire bullet train project from Maharashtra to Sabarmati expected to be ready by 2029: Vaishnaw ↗
3. 27 Sept 2025 ·Deccan HeraldVerified source
   Entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad section of bullet train project will open by 2029: Ashwini Vaishnaw ↗
4. 1 Jan 2026 ·Deccan HeraldVerified source
   India's first bullet train to commence operations on August 15, 2027 ↗
5. 13 Jul 2026 ·SwarajyaVerified source
   India's First Bullet Train Section Between Surat And Bilimora To Launch In 2027, Confirms Vaishnaw ↗
6. Times of IndiaCoverage
   India's bullet train project nine years later: Is the dream finally nearing reality? ↗