Delays Push Bullet Train Project Cost to ₹1.98 Lakh Crore

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07/01/2026

“CRS has no experience related to high-speed train operations and training will help it identify the shortcoming, if any, regarding bullet trains operations in Indian conditions — image is used for representation purpose copyright: Respective Authority

Satish Kumar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board has mentioned that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project cost has escalated to approximately Rs 1.98 lakh crore which is nearly double the original estimate due to the delays in project.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project was estimated to cost Rs 1.08 lakh crore. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is financing Rs 88,000 crore at low interest rates. Reports indicate that the Indian government will cover any cost overruns, as JICA will not provide extra funds.

During a briefing on the 50th meeting of the Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, or PRAGATI, framework, Kumar mentioned “For the NHSRCL high-speed project, I just wanted to mention that while the final sanction of the second revised estimate is yet to be done, approximately it would be around Rs 1.98 lakh crore,”.

Satish Kumar also mentioned that the revised amount remains under review and awaits final Cabinet approval. He further added that the revised amount will be approved shortly within a month or two.

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Trial Run Conducted on Line 1 of Agra Metro

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Staff Reporter

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06/01/2026

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AGRA (Metro Rail News): Agra Metro Project progressed as Afcons–SAM India team conducted a trial run on the Line 1 of Agra Metro which spans 14.25 km from Sikandra to Taj East Gate featuring 14 stations.

Afcons–SAM India team conducted successful trials on the 6 km of Line 1 (Upline Corridor) between Mankameshwar Metro Station and ISBT. The trials were witnessed by senior officials of Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC).

The Phase 1 of Agra Metro Project spans 29.40 km and consists of 2 metro corridors. Currently, the 5.2 km priority corridor of Phase 1 is operational which was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi in March 2024. The details of the corridor have been mentioned below:

Corridor	Route	Length	Total no of Stations
Line 1	Sikandra – Taj East Gate	14.25 km	14 Stations
Line 2	Agra Cantt. – Kalindi Vihar	15.40 km	15 Stations

The entire Phase 1 of the Agra Metro project is expected to be completed in 2026.

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Bullet Train Project: Breakthrough Achieved in First Mountain Tunnel

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Staff Reporter

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06/01/2026

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Mumbai- Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project has achieved a major milestone with the successful breakthrough of the second tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. The Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced this development on 2 January 2026.

Breakthrough of First Mountain Tunnel Achieved in Bullet Train Project at Palghar Maharashtra 02

This milestone signals the state’s first mountain tunnel breakthrough for the project. The breakthrough was achieved in the nearly1.5-km-long MT-5 tunnel, among the longest in Palghar district, located between Virar and Boisar bullet train stations.

The MT-5 tunnel was excavated simultaneously from both ends and completed within 18 months using the advanced drill-and-blast technique. This method enables real-time monitoring of ground behaviour during excavation.

Breakthrough of First Mountain Tunnel Achieved in Bullet Train Project at Palghar Maharashtra 01

The Mumbai- Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project features a total of 8 mountain tunnels.Out of 8 mountain tunnels, seven are located in Palghar district of Maharashtra, while the remaining one tunnel is in the Valsad district of Gujarat.

The Mumbai- Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project is a 508.17 km long under-construction high-speed rail line designed to connect Mumbai in Maharashtra with Ahmedabad in Gujarat featuring 12 stations.

Stations: Mumbai (Bandra Kurla Complex), Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand/Nadiad, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati

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India’s 1st Underwater Rail-Road Tunnel Gets Centre Approval

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Staff Reporter

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05/01/2026

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Indian Railways — Image for representation.

In line with the vision to streamline Northeast India’s connectivity, an inter-ministerial committee chaired by the expenditure secretary has granted in-principle approval for India’s first 15.8km twin-tube underwater tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra River in Assam and this tunnel will facilitate the movement of both road and rail vehicles. This pioneering project will enhance strategic access and regional integration by linking Gohpur on one bank with Numaligarh on the other.

The underwater infrastructure features two parallel tunnels, each for unidirectional traffic. One tunnel will be dedicated to road vehicles with two lanes, and the other will be for housing a single railway track.

Both the tunnels will be constructed approximately 32 meters beneath the riverbed’s deepest point, positioning this as one of the Northeast’s most intricate infrastructure projects.

The tunnel integrates into a broader 33.7-km package encompassing approach roads and railway lines, with an estimated total cost of Rs 18,600 crore. Funding will be shared across the ministries of road transport and highways, railways, and defence.

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Power Mech Projects Becomes L1 for O & M Contract of Mumbai Monorail

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Staff Reporter

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05/01/2026

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MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): Power Mech Projects Ltd has emerged as a lowest bidder for the Operations and Maintenance contract of Mumbai Monorail Project.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) invited bids for this contract with a 1825 Days deadline. Technical bids were opened on 12 Nov 2025 announcing that 4 firms have submitted bids for this contract.Technical evaluation of the submitted bids occurred on 1 Jan 2026. However, 2 firm bids were rejected during the evaluation round. Subsequently, financial bids were opened for the technically qualified bidders and after the financial evaluation round Power Mech Projects Ltd was declared as the lowest bidder for the contract.

Financial Bid Values

Firms	Bid Value
Power Mech Projects Ltd	₹ 296.4 Cr
Adani Infrastructure Management Services Limited	₹ 308.4 Cr

Contracts Scope of Work: Operations and Maintenance O and M of the Mumbai Monorail Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk to Chembur.

Currently, the Phase 1 of Mumbai Monorail Project is Operational. The Phase 1 of Mumbai Monorail consists of one corridor which spans 19.54 km connecting Chembur – Wadala – Jacob Circle.

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UPMRCL Invite Bids for Civil Contract Worth Rs. 492 Cr of Lucknow Metro

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Staff Reporter

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05/01/2026

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LUCKNOW (Metro Rail News): Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRCL) has invited tenders for the civil contract of Phase-1B of Lucknow Metro.

Tender Details

Opening Date	1 Jan 2026
Closing Date	2 Feb 2026
Tender Security /EMD	Rs. 9.84 Crore
Tender Id	2025_UPMRC_261191_1
Tender No	LKCC(02)-02
Approximate cost of work	Rs. 492.22 Crores
Completion period of the Work	30 Months
Pre-bid Meeting	12.01.2026

Contracts Scope of Work: Design and Construction of Main Line Elevated Viaduct from ThakurGanj Metro Station to Vasantkunj Metro Station (approx. 4.6 kms including station length) including construction of ramp (Approx. 740.00m) to connect viaduct & Depot Entry/Exit and 5 nos. of Elevated Metro Stations i.e., Thakurganj, Balaganj, Sarfarajganj, Musabagh & Vasantkunj, including Civil, Associated Ancillary Structures, PEB structures, Architectural work, Water Supply, Sanitary Installation, Drainage, External Development, Fire Fighting arrangement, E&M works in Phase-1B of Lucknow Metro at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Currently, Phase 1A of Lucknow Metro is operational while Phase 2B is under implementation. The details of the corridors have been mentioned below:

Corridor	Route	Elevated	Underground	Total Length	Current Status
Phase 1A	CCS Airport- Munshi Pulia	19.438 km	3.440 km	22.878 km	Operational
Phase 1B	Lucknow Railway Station– Vasant Kunj	4.548 km	6.550 km	11.098 km	Under-Implementation
Total		23.986 km	9.990 km	33.976 km

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CMRL to Commission 15km Section of Chennai Metro Phase 2 in February

By

Kapil Saini

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03/01/2026

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CHENNAI (Metro Rail News): Chennai Metro Rail Limited(CMRL) has revised its rollout strategy for Phase II operations. Instead of beginning services on a shorter section and extending them later, the CMRL now plans to open the 15.8-km corridor between Poonamallee Bypass and Vadapalani directly in February.

This change signals a departure from the earlier approach, which envisaged starting operations on the Poonamallee Bypass-Porur Junction stretch by the end of January, followed by an extension to Vadapalani a month later.

Preparatory work for the launch of Phase II services is moving into a critical stage. The first round of inspections by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), which focused on the rolling stock, has already been completed. The final CMRS inspection, which will assess station facilities and overall readiness for passenger operations, is expected to take place in the last week of January.

On the infrastructure front, a key task still remains: laying nearly 2 km of track between Porur Junction and Vadapalani, split equally between the up and down lines. CMRL aims to complete at least the down line by January 9 so that trial runs can begin.

To address the challenge, CMRL has stepped up execution on the ground by mobilising around 600 workers to expedite track-laying activities. The coming days will therefore be decisive in determining whether trial operations can start as planned and whether the project remains on track for its targeted service launch.

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1st Vande Bharat Sleeper to Run Between Guwahati and Howrah

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Staff Reporter

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02/01/2026

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Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the first-ever Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will operate between Guwahati in Assam and Howrah in West Bengal.

Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train has undergone complete trials, testing, and certification successfully. In January, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will flag off the inaugural service on the Guwahati–Howrah route.

The Minister highlighted this as a major milestone for Indian Railways, the nation, and its passengers. He added that 2026 will usher in substantial reforms for Indian Railways, including several passenger-focused initiatives.

As per the Release, The districts benefitted by the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train include Kamrup Metropolitan and Bongaigaon in Assam State, and Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Maldah, Murshidabad, Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Howrah in West Bengal State.

The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will feature 16 Coaches including 11 three-tier AC coaches, 4 two-tier AC coaches, and 1 first-class AC coach, accommodating approximately 823 passengers.

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Indian Railway Commissions Kavach 4.0 on Bajwa-Ahmedabad section

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Staff Reporter

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02/01/2026

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Kavach 4.0, the latest advancement in Indian Railways’ indigenous Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, has been successfully commissioned on Gujarat’s 96-km Bajwa (Vadodara)–Ahmedabad section. The project covers 17 stations and features comprehensive infrastructure, including 23 towers, 20 Kavach buildings/huts, 192 km of optical fibre cable, and 2,872 RFID tags.

The first Kavach-enabled train on this route, the Sankalp Fast Passenger (59549/59550), operated using WAP-7 locomotives and 11 LHB coaches.

Kavach 4.0 is now fully functional on this section and enhances safety by automatically addressing Signal Passed at Danger (SPAD) incidents, enforcing speed controls across sections, loops, and Permanent Speed Restrictions, and guarding against head-on or rear-end collisions. It also incorporates an SOS feature and automatic whistling at level crossings.

As per the Release, So far, Kavach has been implemented on more than 2200 Route Kilometres. Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system of Indian Railways, designed to provide the highest level of operational safety.

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RVNL Becomes L1 for ₹201.23 Crore Wagon Overhaul Workshop Project

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Staff Reporter

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02/01/2026

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Indian Railways (Representational Image)

Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) has emerged as the lowest bidder for a major contract worth ₹201,23 Crore from East Coast Railway. Under this contract RVNL will set up a wagon periodical overhaul (POH) workshop.

Contract Value: ₹201,23 Cr

Contract Duration: 18 Months

The project involves the setting up of a wagon periodical overhaul (POH) workshop with a capacity of 200 wagons at Kantabanji.

Recently, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd also received a letter of acceptance (LOA) for a contract worth ₹145.35 crore from Southern Railway.

The contract covers the design, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of Scott-connected traction substations, power quality equipment, switching posts, a 2×25 kV feeding system, and SCADA and automatic fault locator systems in the Jolarpettai-Salem section of the Salem division.

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