Gandhinagar: After inaugurating the Gujarat Semi-Connect Conference 2026 at Mahatma Mandir, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that railway projects worth ₹1.28 lakh crore are currently being implemented across Gujarat.

Addressing reporters, Vaishnaw highlighted the significant rise in railway budget allocations for the state. He stated that between 2009 and 2014, during the UPA government, Gujarat received only ₹589 crore in the railway budget. In contrast, the current government has allocated a record ₹17,366 crore for Gujarat this year, marking a substantial increase aimed at modernizing the state’s railway infrastructure.

87 Stations to Be Developed Under Amrit Station Scheme

The Railway Minister further informed that 87 railway stations in Gujarat have been selected for redevelopment under the Amrit Station Scheme, an initiative of Indian Railways.

Out of these, work on 21 stations has already been completed, while rapid progress is underway at key stations including, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati, Surat, Una and Somnath. After redevelopment, Ahmedabad Railway Station will be equipped with international-standard passenger amenities and upgraded infrastructure.

Bullet Train to Be Operational Next Year

Expressing satisfaction over the progress of India’s first high-speed rail project, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train, Vaishnaw said the Central Government is preparing to make the project operational next year.

The high-speed corridor, being executed by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited, will enable travel between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in just 1 hour and 57 minutes, with trains running at a speed of 350 km per hour.

He added that senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan recently reviewed the progress of the project and expressed satisfaction.

The Railway Minister further revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved seven new Bullet Train routes, which will eventually connect additional cities across the country with high-speed rail connectivity, significantly enhancing India’s transportation network.

With record investments and ambitious infrastructure projects underway, Gujarat is set to witness a transformative phase in railway modernization in the coming years. DeshGujarat