MUMBAI-AHMEDABAD HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT GAINS MOMENTUM

Pace of Bullet train Project has gained significant momentum during last few days. 
Clearing a long pending issue, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has issued directives to shift a petrol pump of BPCL located on a plot at BKC earmarked for the terminus of the high-speed train to be constructed as three-storey underground structure and will have six platforms on the lowest level. 
About 1.2 Hectares land in Palghar, Maharashtra has been handed over last week which was earlier stuck up for months. With that, 90.56% land has been acquired for the entire project, (98.8% in Gujarat and 100% in Dadar Nagar Haveli and 72.25% in Maharashtra)
The new Government in Maharashtra has shown a proactive and positive approach towards the Bullet train project and in a review meeting on 12.07.2022, has committed that issues involving transfer of land for BKC underground station (4.84 Ha) and 3.92 Ha at Vikroli for tunnel shaft  will be resolved by September. 
For Bullet train project alignment passing through the forest area, stage I clearance has been granted by Maharashtra Government and Stage-II approval is also expected by September.
So far, foundation and pier works have been completed in 75 length of the 352 Km long Gujarat portion of the project. The works on bridges on rivers and launching of Girders for viaduct in 180 Km length of alignment are going on in full swing. The works on all eight (8) stations between Vapi and Sabarmati are also under various stages of construction. The Sabarmati passenger hub is nearing completion, which will provide seamless multi-modal connectivity to various inter and intra city transport. Contracts for all civil and track packages have already been awarded in Gujarat portion of MAHSR alignment. It is expected that trial run between Vapi-Sabarmati may be conducted in 2026 and the section in Gujarat portion i.e. Sabarmati-Vapi is likely to be fully operational in 2027.
E5 series Shinkansen bullet trains, which can travel upto a speed of 360kmph, are part of a new generation Japanese high speed train (also called Hayabusa) introduced into commercial operation in March 2011 in Japan which are designed to be more comfortable and faster than ever before. In the 14th Joint Committee meeting held between Indian side and Japanese side on 30th June, 2022 and headed by Minister of Railways from Indian side, both sides have agreed  for the modalities for procurement of E5 series Shinkansen Rolling stock, and now all the pending issues of Rolling Stock procurement such as interfacing, integration, testing and trial of Rolling Stock etc. are going to be resolved soon.