An ambitious vision of the Indian Railways that is soon to come true, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project, also popularly known as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR), is a multi-dimensional project to enhance the connectivity of the cities of Mumbai and Ahmedabad with India’s first-ever High-Speed Rail line. The High-Speed Rail Corridor is supposed to operate at a speed of 320 km/hr, covering an extensive distance of 508 km featuring 12 stations along its course.
With a vision to revolutionize rail travel in India, this challenging Project was proposed a few years ago to strengthen the connectivity between the two major cities of India- Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The Bullet Train Project, which was initially expected to be completed by December 2023 but has encountered delay due to the land acquisition challenges faced by the Government, remains to be pivotal congestion for the development. In accordance with the Joint Feasibility Study report of 2015, the cost of this ambitious Project was estimated to be Rs 1,08,000 crore, with a timeline of 8 years to complete the Project. However, due to land acquisition hindrances, the estimated deadline has been pushed forward.
Land Acquisition and Construction of the High-Speed Rail Project
The estimated land required for this multi-dimensional product is approximately around 1389.5 hectares, out of which the Government has acquired 1381.9 hectares. The hindrance related to land acquisition is primarily encountered in the state of Maharashtra. The construction and development phase, on the hand, has seen a significant breakthrough as the Government has awarded all the civil contracts associated with the MAHSR Project. This momentous Project has been divided into 28 contract packages, out of which 23 packages have been awarded. Considerable groundwork and pier construction have been noted in the construction phase of the Project, with the relocation of the utility underway. Until now, the Government has spent a sizeable amount of Rs. 45, 621.17 on the Project.
Ashwini Vaishnaw on Estimated Final Timeline For MAHSR Project
As per Ashwini Vaishnaw, the estimated final cost and timeline of this ambitious Project can be determined only after the completion of the land acquisition process and contracts. Minister Vaishnaw accosted the land acquisition obstacles faced by the Government as a major concern for the project delay, which is to be resolved by the concerned authorities as a top priority.
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A Project that is bound to revolutionize transportation in India, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project, despite the hindrances and difficulties faced in the construction, holds immense possibilities of boosting the socio-economic development in the region. The Project is believed to stimulate overall growth along with its route and is poised to become a notch in the belt of development for the Indian railways. With its connectivity and strategic location, India is soon to become a nation with a high-speed rail line that will contribute to the determination of India’s infrastructural and transportation network advancements.
