Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project might get delayed from 2023

One of the most ambitious projects of India, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, has once again faced an obstacle, this time due to land acquisition related concerns. Due to these issues, the authorities have confirmed that the high-speed train corridor might get delayed from the 2023 deadline which was planned earlier. 

Meanwhile, the Union railway minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, while interacting with the media on Wednesday, September 27, 2021, informed that the Surat-Bilimora route, which is touted to be the first phase of the project, is expected to begin in 2026. Discussions are being held with Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, with an aim to find solutions to the issues. Opposition BJP has informed that the land in Maharashtra cannot be acquired without the consent of farmers. 

While the officials have acquired some parts of the land in Gujarat, the project has faced obstacles and delays in the past due to land acquisition issues in Maharashtra, where the officials have informed that Thane and Palghar-based farmers have been against offering their land for the project. Discussions are being held for the same, however, the progress in this phase of the project has been slow. Considering the same, officials have started construction where the land has been acquired. 

Announced in 2017, this corridor is over 508km long and the first phase expected to be launched in 2026, is approximately 50km, stretching from Surat to Bilimora. Out of the total stretch, authorities have planned 384.04km in Gujarat, 155.76km is in Maharashtra, and 4.3km in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Stations like Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Bharuch, Surat Billimora, Vapi in Gujarati, and Thane, Virar, Boisor in Maharashtra have been planned on the corridor, with a terminal at Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

Partial funding for the project, i.e. INR 88,000 crore out of the INR 110,000 crore has been received from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Earlier, the department expected to finish the project by 2023, but several issues have unexpectedly delayed the project and as per projections, the project planned in parts of Gujarat might be completed by 2024.