Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters at the NDTV World Summit in October 2026 that the Mumbai‑Ahmedabad bullet train will open in 2027, a milestone that the ministry says will finally connect the two cities in under three hours.
The foundation stone was laid in 2017, but design work dragged on for 18 to 24 months before the COVID‑19 pandemic stalled progress. Construction only began in 2021 after the government secured final permits.
Former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara had publicly accused India of breaking commitments on the project, a claim the government rejected outright. Vaishnaw stressed that the partnership with Japan remains a strategic alliance, noting that Japanese engineers plan to adapt the technology for future trains.
During a site visit a year and a half ago, Japanese minister Nakano Hiromasa was reportedly "spellbound" by the progress, according to Vaishnaw. The minister also said that the International High‑Speed Rail Association’s chairman praised the speed of India’s execution.
The next phase will see a final inspection by the Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport before the July 15, 2027 opening ceremony. Officials expect the ceremony to be attended by senior Indian and Japanese officials and to be broadcast nationwide.