India’s first Bullet Train set to operate from Mumbai to…, each coach costs worth Rs 280000000, Railway Ministry says…

New Delhi: The Bullet Train project is one of the ambitious projects of the Modi government, and now, after the massive victory in Maharashtra, the project is likely to get momentum. The Railway Ministry is planning to domestically manufacture high-speed trains. According to a Times of India report citing officials, Indian Railways aims to accelerate the much-anticipated initiative.

The report further adds that the project will be developed using the existing Vande Bharat platform. Its corridors will feature advanced signalling systems that integrate the latest automatic train protection technology, the Kavach 5.0.

“Work on the bullet train corridor in Maharashtra picked up pace after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government took charge. Entire land acquisition is complete, and over 320 kilometres of the physical infrastructure work is ready,” an official told TOI.

The Railway officials have stressed that India is prepared to manage and expand the project independently. “India is now capable to single-handedly take up this project in more corridors. We should have our own trains in future corridors as well,” the official added.

A second official highlighted India’s ambitions, stating, “India wants to become fully capable of making bullet trains that can touch speeds of up to 280 kilometres per hour (kmph) and average at 250 kmph operational speed.” However, developing key components like power trains and train bodies is expected to take around three years, despite incremental improvements in suspension systems.

Addressing concerns about Japan’s Shinkansen suppliers, a senior official clarified, “We aim to maintain Japanese collaboration. Negotiations are ongoing for the supply deal for modern trains set to operate on the MAHSR corridor.”