Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Surat to Bilimora section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor will become operational in 2027 as construction on the country's first bullet train corridor continues at pace. He noted that the project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is progressing rapidly and that the first section will open next year. The corridor will be brought into service in phases, beginning with the Surat-Bilimora stretch and followed by sequential openings from Vapi to Surat, Vapi to Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad to Thane and Ahmedabad to Mumbai.

Vaishnaw provided an update on ongoing redevelopment works at railway stations, stating that 261 stations have been completed to date at an unprecedented pace. He described the Secunderabad station as being redeveloped in a fundamentally new form while maintaining regular train operations, a task that requires work to proceed without stopping traffic. The redevelopment involves construction of an air concourse that will serve as a roof over all platforms while trains continue to run, with an emphasis on safety and quality.

He said the high-speed corridors announced for the region will integrate regional economies and reshape urban landscapes, with Hyderabad positioned as a high-speed hub. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved three high-speed corridors linked to Hyderabad - from Pune to Hyderabad, Hyderabad to Chennai and Hyderabad to Bengaluru - which the Minister said will drive development across the region. The corridors are expected to bring significant economic integration and urban transformation.

On the technology and manufacturing front, Vaishnaw said more than one hundred electronics manufacturing companies have been promoted under central programmes and that Telangana has been a major beneficiary. He added that the central government has allocated a Rs 54 billion (Rs 54 bn) railways budget for Telangana, which is contributing to substantial change. The Minister indicated that these investments, combined with high-speed connectivity, will accelerate growth and development across connected states.