The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has commenced rail welding operations for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project in Gujarat, marking a critical milestone before track laying begins on the 508-kilometer route designed for speeds of 320 km/h. The project uses 25-meter-long rails imported from Japan, which are fused into 200-meter panels using advanced flash butt welding technology. NHSRCL has already produced 298 panels, equating to around 60 kilometers of track. The process includes grinding rail ends, aligning them for precise fusion, and performing rigorous inspections using magnetic particle and ultrasonic testing to ensure weld integrity. Specialised Japanese rail tread measuring equipment verifies alignment, and 200-meter panels are transported along the route using a rail feeder car for installation. The rails are then secured to track slabs using fasteners. Four track construction bases operate in Gujarat, with two between Surat and Bilimora and two between Vadodara and Anand. So far, 64 kilometers of reinforced concrete track bed has been completed, with over 23,000 slabs cast at facilities in Kim and Anand, covering 118 kilometers of track. The bullet train route, which is 90% elevated, will feature 12 stations, including Mumbai, Thane, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati. The Bandra Kurla Complex station in Mumbai will be the only underground facility. Initially launched in 2017 with an estimated cost of Rs 1080 billion and a completion target of December 2023, the project faced delays due to land acquisition hurdles in Maharashtra and the Covid-19 pandemic. NHSRCL now aims to complete the entire route by late 2028, with the Gujarat section potentially opening in 2027. Once operational, the bullet train will slash travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to three hours, significantly faster than the current Vande Bharat Express, which takes about five and a half hours. (Hindustan Times)