India’s First Made-In-India Semi High-Speed Rail Project To Be Rolled In This State

Last Updated:May 13, 2026, 16:07 IST

The project, which will cost approximately Rs 20,667 crore, will cut down travel time between Ahmedabad and Dholera, enabling comfortable daily commuting and same‑day return trips.

India will soon have its first semi high-speed project, which is planned with indigenously developed technology.

The Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Semi High-Speed Double Line project of the Ministry of Railways connecting Sarkhej in Ahmedabad to Dholera, a Special Investment Region (SIR) in Gujarat.

The project, which will cost approximately Rs 20,667 crore, will cut down travel time between Ahmedabad and Dholera, enabling comfortable daily commuting and same‑day return trips.

As India’s first semi high-speed rail project, the project will serve as a pioneer project, acting as a reference model for the phased expansion of semi high-speed rail across the country, read a release by the Ministry of Railways.

The project is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of a New India, which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar" by way of comprehensive development in the area, which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.

The project covering the Ahmedabad district will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 134 Kms.

Why This Project Is Crucial

The new line proposal will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways. It will enhance connectivity to approximately 284 villages, which have a population of about 5 lakhs.

The project is planned on the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan with a focus on enhancing multi-modal connectivity & logistic efficiency through integrated planning and stakeholder consultations. These projects will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.

The Railways, being environment friendly and energy efficient mode of transportation, will help both in achieving climate goals and minimising logistics cost of the country, reduce oil import (0.48 Crore Litres) and lower CO2 emissions (2 Crore Kg), which is equivalent to the plantation of 10 (Ten) Lakh trees.

Semi High-Speed Trains In India

The Ministry of Railways classifies “semi high-speed" rail routes as those where trains operate at speeds between 160 kmph and 200 kmph. At present, Vande Bharat Express trains are among the fastest operational services running in this category across India.

India is also preparing to enter the era of true high-speed rail with the upcoming Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, commonly known as the bullet train project. Several other proposed corridors connecting major cities and key economic hubs have also been announced as part of the country’s long-term high-speed rail expansion plans.

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