India-Japan High‑Speed Rail Project to Launch Mumbai‑Ahmedabad Bullet Train by 2027

India and Japan are accelerating work on the Mumbai‑Ahmedabad High‑Speed Rail corridor, with the first operational section slated for August 2027 between Surat and Vapi. The two governments agreed to start services using an indigenous Indian high‑speed train while Japan prepares its next‑generation E10 Shinkansen, expected in the early 2030s.

External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the project is progressing on schedule despite remarks by former Japanese minister Hideki Makihara alleging delays. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed the corridor’s strategic importance during recent bilateral talks in New Delhi, confirming that signalling equipment ordered meets global standards and that the first section will open on time.