Bullet train project to more cities, Metro and Vande Metro will be extended; Indian Railways to undergo huge transformation

NEW DELHI: Construction work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, the first bullet train project in the country, is progressing at a fast pace. President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said that the government has plans to connect more cities in the country through the bullet train project. The President said this while addressing both Houses of Parliament.

The President said that the union government is trying to connect cities in different parts of the country and introduce high-speed travel systems a reality so that people can reach these places quickly.

"Work on the High-Speed Rail Ecosystem between Ahmedabad and Mumbai is also progressing at a rapid pace. Reaching a distance of 508 km in just two hours will be a huge milestone," the President said.

"The construction works are currently progressing in such a way that the first phase of the bullet train project will be completed by August 2026. The government is taking major strides in providing a better public transport system with modern technology and systems for the people. The country is aiming for global standards in this endeavour," she said.

"Metro services have been introduced to 21 cities in the last ten years. It will increase further. In Kerala, construction works of the Thiruvananthapuram Metro are about to start. A new train service called Vande Metro will also be introduced very soon. It will be used for journeys of less than 400 km. This will reduce the congestion in long-distance trains," the President added.