Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project faces bottlenecks

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is likely to miss its deadline of December 2023 due to land acquisition issues in Maharashtra. The 508.17 km bullet train project consists of a 155.76 km stretch in Maharashtra, 348.04 km in Gujarat, and 4.3 km in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project's estimated cost is Rs 110,000 crore, of which Rs 88,000 crore will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), an entity formed by the Railway Ministry to build the project, has invited bids for the construction of stations, bridges, rivers, and road crossings in Gujarat. The project was estimated to be completed by December 2023, but since the land acquisition is not yet completed, the construction of the train corridor has not yet begun in Maharashtra. Even the construction of the train corridor has not yet begun in Maharashtra. NHSRCL officials are quiet about the completion of the project in Maharashtra. Chairman of Railway Board, Suneet Sharma told the media that the completion date in the state cannot be determined due to land acquisition concerns in Maharashtra. He further added that work on the bullet train corridor is going on in full swing in Gujarat. However, there are land acquisition concerns in Maharashtra. Tenders can only be invited once the acquisition is done. NHSRCL had called off final bids for the construction of the Bandra-Kurla complex (BKC) railway station in early January, which will be the first station of the high-speed railway corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Image SourceAlso read: Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project: L&T begins pier concreting work Also read: Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: NHSRCL inks MoU with Japanese firm