GBS 2026: Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train first section to open in 2027; 52 rail reforms lined up for 2026, says Ashwini Vaishnaw | ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026

GBS 2026: Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking at the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026, said India will launch the first section of its maiden bullet train corridor from Mumbai to Ahmedabad in 2027.

He said significant progress has been made in designing and executing the country’s first high-speed rail project, adding that Indian engineers and industry have “lived up to the challenge.” According to the minister, India has climbed the learning curve and is now “practically fully self-sufficient” in high-speed train technology.

Seven new high-speed corridors spanning 4,000 km

Vaishnaw also highlighted seven new bullet train corridors announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The proposed projects will span 4,000 kilometres of high-speed rail lines and are aimed at connecting large parts of the country, transforming the transportation sector.

Bengaluru–Chennai travel time to shrink to 73 minutes

Illustrating the impact, he said travel time between Bengaluru and Chennai would be reduced to 73 minutes, effectively bringing the two cities closer and enabling greater economic integration.

The minister added that the high-speed rail push would support India’s ambitions of becoming an exporter.

On broader railway reforms, Vaishnaw said the ministry is undertaking “52 reforms in 52 weeks” in 2026. The two reforms are set to be announced later on the same day. Seven reforms have already been implemented, with the rest in the pipeline, aimed at improving the travel experience, particularly for passengers who travel on a daily basis.

ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026: Day 2 LIVE VIDEO

ET NOW Global Business Summit 2026

At a time when disruption is continuous and power is being re-distributed across technology, geopolitics, capital, and society, Times Group’s thought leadership dialogue, ET NOW Global Business Summit (GBS) 2026, set to take place on February 13 and February 14 at the Hotel Taj Palace in New Delhi, embraces the theme “A Decade of Disruption. A Century of Change”.

GBS 2026 - A Decade of Disruption. A Century of Change

This year’s edition reflects the scale, speed, and significance of transformations reshaping global economies, from technological acceleration and geopolitical realignment to sustainability imperatives and new governance models.

The GBS 2026 will evaluate a range of themes, including economic disruption, Industry 5.0, globalisation, workforce transformation, energy security and business diversification.

The Times Group’s ET NOW Global Business Summit (GBS) is not a reflection on the past; it is a platform built to shape what comes next. As Asia’s most influential global leadership forum, it convenes the architects of economies, institutions, and enterprises to script the forces that will define the century ahead.

Conceived as a space where leaders confront uncertainty before it becomes inevitability, GBS convenes the world’s most influential voices to interpret disruption, design direction, and script long-term impact.

As economies, technologies, and governance systems undergo accelerated transformation, GBS serves as a centre of global conversations, where emerging realities are debated, strategic responses are forged, and the foundations of future growth are laid.