Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism H.E. Hiromasa Nakano, inspected the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (HSR) construction sites in Surat and Mumbai today.Minister Nakano was welcomed at Surat International Airport with a traditional Garba performance. The reception was attended by Surat MP Mukesh Dalal, Mayor Daxesh Mavani, the Chairman of the Railway Board, senior officials of Indian Railways, NHSRCL, and the district administration.Visit to Track Slab Laying Site, SuratThe ministers visited the track construction base at the Surat High-Speed Rail site, where they observed the installation of the J-slab ballast-less track system on the viaduct. The track slab installation and permanent rail laying are progressing swiftly. Earlier, Shri Vaishnaw had witnessed the first track turnout installation near the Surat HSR station, marking a key milestone in the project’s execution.Visit to BKC HSR Station, MumbaiThe ministers travelled from Surat to Mumbai aboard the Vande Bharat Express and reviewed the progress at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) underground bullet train station — a major terminal on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad HSR corridor. Minister Nakano and the Japanese delegation praised the quality and performance of the Vande Bharat trains.BKC Station HighlightsThe BKC bullet train station will be an underground facility featuring three levels — platform, concourse, and service floor. Excavation has reached a depth of over 30 metres, equivalent to a 10-storey building, with approximately 84 per cent of work completed. Designed for passenger convenience, the station will offer road and metro connectivity, with two access points—one near the metro station and another near the MTNL building. Spacious interiors, modern amenities, and skylights for natural lighting will ensure a comfortable passenger experience.Project Progress (As of September 2025)The Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor, spanning 508 kilometres, continues to make rapid progress. Of this, 323 kilometres of viaduct and 399 kilometres of pier work have been completed. Significant milestones include 17 river bridges, 5 PSC bridges, and 9 steel bridges now completed.A total of 211 kilometres of track bed has been laid, and over 400,000 noise barriers have been installed along the corridor. Excavation is advancing for seven mountain tunnels in Palghar, while 5 kilometres of the 21-kilometre NATM tunnel between BKC and Shilphata has achieved breakthrough. Construction of rolling stock depots at Surat and Ahmedabad is underway, with superstructure works on all Gujarat stations nearing completion. Additionally, work has commenced on all three elevated stations in Maharashtra.The visit of Minister Nakano underscores the strong partnership between India and Japan in delivering India’s first high-speed rail corridor, a flagship infrastructure project symbolising technological collaboration and shared progress.