In a positive development for commuters between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the Western Railway (WR) is poised to conclude its infrastructure and engineering overhaul by March 2024. This initiative, costing ₹3,950 crore, will pave the way for trains to operate at a speed of up to 160 km per hour, potentially reducing travel time by approximately two hours.
The ongoing work on two critical corridors, Mumbai to Nagda and Vadodara to Ahmedabad, is progressing well, with 13 out of 15 tasks on the Virar-Surat stretch already completed. These tasks encompass enhancements to rail track quality, track elevation where necessary, sufficient ballast cushioning, sleeper improvements, and rehabilitation of foot and road overbridges.
WR officials have indicated that the remaining work on the Surat-Vadodara and Vadodara-Ahmedabad stretches is anticipated to be finalized this month, followed by requisite approvals from the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
To enhance safety measures, WR has implemented metal beam fencing along 557 km – a pioneering initiative on Indian Railways – and constructed a pre-stressed concrete wall spanning 75 km.
Trains equipped with Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches will have the potential to operate at 160 kmph. While a detailed plan and revised timetable for trains on this route are pending, the infrastructure upgrade is expected to benefit popular services such as Vande Bharat, Shatabdi, and Rajdhani.
Currently, WR operates a minimum of 60 trains daily on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, encompassing those extending beyond. This initiative is part of the larger ‘Mission Raftaar’ project under the Centre’s vision, aiming to make the entire 1,479 km Mumbai-Delhi corridor compatible with trains operating at 160 kmph. Several other railway zones, including West Central Railway, North Central Railway, and Northern Railway, are concurrently executing works, bringing the total project cost to ₹8,095 crore.
This significant stride toward a 160 kmph semi high-speed corridor aligns with the ‘Mission Raftaar’ project sanctioned in 2017-18 by the Centre.
