India Approves Ahmedabad-Dholera Semi High-Speed Rail Project

India approved the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line project on 13 May 2026. The project is estimated at about ₹20,667 crore and will add around 134 km of railway line in Gujarat. It is planned as India’s first semi high-speed rail project developed with indigenous technology.

Project Route and Connectivity

The corridor will connect Ahmedabad, the Dholera Special Investment Region, the upcoming Dholera Airport, and the Lothal National Maritime Heritage Complex. The line is designed to improve rail access in the Ahmedabad-Dholera region, which is part of Gujarat’s industrial and infrastructure network.

Speed, Capacity and Timeline

The project is designed for train operation at 220 kmph and will operate at 200 kmph. The travel time between Sabarmati and Dholera is planned to reduce to 48 minutes. The project completion target is 2030–31.

PM Gati Shakti and Indigenous Rail Technology

The project is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which is a national framework for multimodal connectivity and logistics planning. India’s semi high-speed rail ecosystem also includes the Vande Bharat Express, which is a made-in-India train set category developed for higher-speed passenger services.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves major infrastructure projects in India.
• Semi high-speed rail in India generally refers to train services faster than conventional passenger trains but below dedicated high-speed rail standards.
• The Dholera Special Investment Region is a planned industrial region in Gujarat.
• Lothal is an important Harappan site associated with maritime archaeology and is located in Gujarat.

Vande Bharat Linkage

The Vande Bharat Express is India’s flagship semi high-speed train category. Its sleeper prototype was rolled out by BEML in September 2024, and commercial services began in January 2026.