Surat, Gujarat - November 30, 2024: Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected the slab track system for the bullet train project at Kim village in Surat. He emphasized the critical role of the slab in the bullet train initiative, noting the high precision and skilled labor involved in its manufacturing.
According to Vaishnaw, the facility in Kim Village, which is the world's largest slab manufacturing plant utilizing Japanese technology, is now operational. Previously reliant on imports from Japan, the project has transitioned to domestic production, which is expected to enhance future construction projects.
The newly established factory is designed to produce high-capacity ballastless track slabs using advanced Shinkansen technology. This development is a significant step in advancing India's high-speed rail infrastructure.
The pre-cast reinforced concrete track slabs produced at this facility measure 2,200 mm in width, 4,900 mm in length, and 190 mm in thickness, weighing approximately 3.9 tons each. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, covering a 508-kilometer corridor, aims to revolutionize rail travel in India by significantly reducing travel time between the two major economic hubs from six hours to around two hours.
Set to transform the connectivity between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is a pivotal government initiative with a sanctioned budget of Rs 1,08,000 crore. It is expected to enhance safety, speed, and service, positioning Indian Railways as a global leader in high-speed rail.