Overview
- The minister outlined staging that includes commissioning the Thane–Ahmedabad stretch in 2028 ahead of full-corridor operations in 2029.
- Planned operations target a Mumbai–Ahmedabad journey of about 2 hours 7 minutes at up to 320 km/h on the main line, with loop lines at 80 km/h.
- Heavy civil works at Surat station are complete as finishing and utility installation proceed alongside track linking, with designs featuring a large central concourse where all services will halt.
- New track systems highlighted onsite include roller bearings for turnout movement, composite sleepers, vibration‑damping mechanisms, and safety measures for strong winds and seismic activity.
- NHSRCL cites progress of 323 km of viaduct, 399 km of pier work, 210 km of track bed, over four lakh noise barriers and more than 2,100 OHE masts, with bridges, tunnels and depots advancing, while a Brahmapur–Udhna Amrit Bharat Express has been flagged off to boost interim connectivity.