National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) invites open tenders (e-bids) from Indian firms for selection of a consultant for the ticketing system of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.

The consultant will study, suggest the best available system, prepare tender documents, cost estimation report and assist in finalisation of main tender of ticketing in MAHSR.

However, the pace of India’s journey to put on track a high-speed rail, or bullet train, seems to have slowed down for various reasons.

The ambitious project aims to establish a swift connection between Mumbai, the economic and financial hub of India, and Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat.

The entire journey between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is likely to be completed in 2 hours, 7 minutes. During the journey, the train will halt at 10 cities namely — Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

According to NHSRCL, the objectives of the work is to prepare the employer’s requirements of ticketing system suitable for MAHSR Project.

The consultant will also prepare the bidding documents for inviting tenders in accordance to the online/offline mode of tendering.

It would prepare the cost estimate of the ticketing system for MAHSR and also assist the employer for the smooth completion of tender floating, submission and opening process. One can submit tender till 6 January 2024 and the pre-bid meeting is slated to be held on 7 January 2024 and the last date for submission of the bid is 8 January 2024.

The project’s anticipated completion date was set for December 2023. However, due to challenges in acquiring land in Maharashtra, the timeline for the entire corridor’s completion has become uncertain.

Due to delays acquiring land in Maharashtra, a completion date for the whole corridor is uncertain, though the 352 km section through Gujarat will fully open in 2027, after opening the section’s 50 km stretch, from Surat to Bilimora, in August 2026.

The corridor is 508.09 km long and traverses the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The alignment comprises 460.3 km of viaducts, 25.87 km of tunnels, 12.9 km of cut and fill and 9.22 km of bridges. A 21 km tunnel connects Thane and Virar, of which 7 km will be undersea.