Bullet trains can help revive economy: FM

New Delhi, Sept. 24: Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday highlighted the potential of bullet trains in regenerating the economy, but cautioned that unless real implementation takes place, nobody would have any idea about these benefits.

Addressing a national seminar on Integral Humanism — Indian Way of Attaining Sustainable Development, Mr Jaitley, while referring to “illinformed debates” in the recent past on the benefits of bullet trains, stated that a common misconception has to be cleared that improving connectivity will only empower the rich and not the common man.

Further, he reprimanded a heckler who interrupted him while speaking on the subject. The heckler sought a Hindi translation of the words bullet train and was curtly told to be serious and avoid frivolity.

“I have visited Japan thrice in the last 15 months. When I had to travel for an event from Tokyo to Yokohama, I was sceptical about the food there. A friend of mine who lives in another city was able to bring refreshments in just 17 minutes, inspite of being in another city. Such is the power of bullet trains,” he said.

“Bullet trains can help in regenerating the economy and building new townships and smart cities. An individual travelling 100 km from Mumbai to Ahmedabad or vice-versa on work can commute in just about 30 minutes. There is need for more integrations and development, undoubtedly. However, the real idea of this can be understood only once implemented,” added Mr Jaitley.

Earlier in the month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while laying the foundation stone for India’s first high-speed rail project along with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said it will provide “suvidha” (facility), “suraksha”, (security) and will brings “rozgar” (employment) and “raftar” (speed).

He had also stated that a new economic system was being developed along the MumbaiAhmedabad corridor, and the entire area would become a single economic zone.