Overview

• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw detailed a phased plan that includes commissioning of the Thane–Ahmedabad stretch in 2028 after an initial 50 km Surat–Bilimora opening in 2027.
• The first high‑speed turnout was installed at the under‑construction Surat station during his site review, marking a shift from heavy construction to track and systems work.
• New technologies cited include roller‑bearing turnouts, composite sleepers, and vibration‑absorbing mechanisms, with track safety features designed for stability in high winds and earthquakes.
• Surat station’s structural works are complete and finishing is underway, with a multimodal plan linking metro, BRT, city buses, taxis, and autos to streamline access.
• Progress figures reported this week list 323 km of viaducts, 399 km of pier work, about 210 track‑km of track‑bed, and over 2,100 OHE masts, with trains designed for 320 km/h and a 2 hours 7 minutes end‑to‑end run.