India’s first bullet train project set for takeoff

PM Modi, Japanese counterpart to lay foundation stone of the 508km MumbaiAhmedabad route link on September 14; train’s top speed will touch 350km per hour

ambitious bullet train project is at the take-off stage, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) on September 14 in Ahmedabad.

Once complete (scheduled in December 2023, but commencement date sought to be advanced to August 2022), the train – travelling at a top speed of 350 kilometres per hour – will reduce travel time between the two cities to around two hours from the existing 7-8 hours.

“The project will integrate the Indian Railways to global transportation technology and help rewrite India’s transport infrastructure narrative,” railways minister Piyush Goyal said.

“Unfortunately, Indian railways have not graduated from the colonial-era technologies and practices in past four or five decades. Exposure to the high speed technology (popularly called the bullet trains) will enable rail engineers in India to innovate and modernise systems and practices,” Goyal said.

Goyal emphasised that funding had come from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at a low rate of interest — 0.1% per annum.

“The project will also enable creation of around 15 lakh jobs,” the minister said, adding that passenger fares on the premium train were likely to be lower than the air fares between the two cities.

A feasibility study for the MAHSR was undertaken by Japanese consultants in December 2013 and report submitted in July 2015.

The project was sanctioned by the Union Cabinet in December 2015. The high-speed rail network, where trains run at a speed in excess of 250 kmph, is available in 15 countries, with India being the lone exception among major passenger railway systems not to have one.

“This bullet train is an endeavour to bring economic growth and prosperity in the country. New Shinkansen Technology by the Japanese shall ensure more growth opportunities (for the Indian Railways). This is an occasion to celebrate the advent of the most modern technology in India,” Goyal said.

Railway board chairman Ashwani Lohani said the “Centre’s astuteness in securing favourable deals through innovative financing, and efficient implementation stands out in this case. The bullet train will come to India almost for free”.

On plans to set up a HSR training institute in Vadodara, Lohani said the Centre would provide equipment, ancillary facilities, and trained personnel, emulating the institute in Japan.