India’s first bullet train to be built in Bengaluru?

Bengaluru: Garden city Bengaluru is likely to become the manufacturing hub for India’s first bullet train. BEML (Bharat Earth Movers Limited) has emerged as the sole bidder for a tender floated by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.

If everything goes as planned, the bullet train that will operate on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route will be manufactured in BEML’s Bengaluru unit.

Subta Rao, head of the Integral Coach Factory, stated, “BEML is the only company that has submitted a bid to manufacture two bullet trains, each consisting of 8 coaches. The tender will be finalized within a week.”

Initially, the tender is for the construction of two bullet trains, with the project expected to be completed in the next 2.5 years.

Features of the Bullet Train:

The bullet train will consist of 8 coaches and have a top speed capability of 280 km/h, with an operational speed of 250 km/h. Seven of the eight coaches will feature a 3+2 seating arrangement, while one coach will have a 2+2 seating arrangement. The estimated cost of building each train is between ₹200-250 crore, according to sources.