'Surat-Bilimora section of bullet train project to become operational in 2027'

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that the Surat to Bilimora is the first section of the Bullet Train project that will become operational and several new technologies have been introduced into the work on the tracks.

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Vaishnaw, who inspected the work of the station and track laying, said the first section of Surat to Bilimora will become operational in 2027.

"The first section of Bullet Train project that will become operational is Surat to Bilimora. I inspected the work of the station and track laying; this is really good progress. Several new technologies have been introduced into the work on tracks. These new technologies are unique for bullet train project. We will benefit from this in several other project in the country. If you look at the station, there is a speciality there, too. All trains will halt at Surat Station, there are two tracks at the side and two in the centre, there are two platforms here - one in Mumbai's direction and another in Ahmedabad's direction," Vaishnaw told ANI.

"There is a huge concourse in the centre...High-speed rail turnouts are very specially designed because when trains run at speeds of 320, 330, 340 km/hr and when two tracks are connecting, there should be no gap. So, I saw several new things...The first section of Surat to Bilimora will become operational in 2027," he added.