Railways Minister says the first bullet train to run by 2026

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, claimed that the bullet train project would be completed by August 2026. However, he claimed that the hyperloop technology is still 7-8 years away. The minister acknowledged that there had been some problems in Maharashtra that had caused the project's early delays, but that they had been rectified by the state’s new administration. He stated that 154 pillars for the bullet train have been done in one and a half years to emphasise how quickly the construction was completed.

He responded that the administration has established a goal date of August 2026 for the country to expect the first bullet train. “The government is targeting August 2026 for running first bullet train. The goal is to run the bullet train on a larger section in 2027,” said the minister.

The minister acknowledged the potential of the hyperloop, but added that, "If speaking realistically, the technology is still seven to eight years away.” On the rail budget, he stated that, “it is historic and is going to radically impact the productivity of India's economy in 2023.”

Vaishnaw, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Communication, also emphasised India's technological advancements. As comparison to ten years ago, he claimed, practically all mobile phones are now made in India. He claimed that the semiconductor industry is a recent development in India and that the government is in communication with all relevant parties to advance the sector.