Overview
- The project has moved from mainline construction toward system testing after the first test coach was completed and cleared for further trials, Indian officials say.
- Authorities are targeting the Surat–Bilimora stretch as the first operational section in 2027, with staged commissioning to give early public access before full corridor service.
- Work on major stations is in its final civil stages, with the Ahmedabad transit hub reported near completion and designed to link metro, mainline rail and city buses within a short walk.
- Project teams report extensive seismic‑safety checks and systems that can halt trains within seconds of an alert to limit damage during earthquakes.
- Japanese engineering teams are working alongside Indian firms on technology transfer while Indian engineers point to a locally built 1,000‑ton remote‑operated crane now deployed on site and marketed overseas, a development that could boost local manufacturing and jobs.