OF HUGS, ROADSHOW AND DINNER DIPLOMACY
For the first time as PM, Narendra Modi visits a mosque in India with his Japanese counterpart Abe
In a first by two Prime Ministers, India’s Narendra Modi and Japan’s Shinzo Abe participated on Wednesday in an eight-kmlong roadshow in Ahmedabad that was dotted with cultural performances showcasing a slice of India.
Later in the day, the two leaders engaged in a tête-à-tête over a Gujarati-Japanese dinner at a heritage hotel where they discussed the areas for strengthening “multifaceted cooperation” between the two nations.
The highlight of the day’s events, however, was Modi’s guided tour to Abe and his spouse of the 400-year-old Sidi Saiyed Mosque in the eastern fringes of old Ahmedabad — his first visit to a mosque in India as PM. The 16th century monument, often considered a symbol of Ahmedabad — India's only Unesco World Heritage City, is famous for its intricate stone lattice work.
Dusk is the best time to visit this monument when the filtered sun rays through the lattice create intricate patterns on the sandstone walls. A native of Gujarat, Modi took Abe around the mosque as he explained its deep-rooted Indo-Islamic architectural heritage.
The two leaders walked right across the road to a heritage hotel where they bonded over an Indo-Japanese dinner. Representatives from major corporate houses from Japan were also present in a closeddoor meeting in the evening. It is believed that possible cooperation in the areas of defence and future of India-Japan nuclear ties were discussed in the meeting.
Political observers believe that in recent times Japan has emerged as the most significant strategic partner for India, and this relationship can act as the cornerstone of South Asian diplomacy. It is also the first visit by any country head to India after the Doklam standoff. Japan had come out openly in India's support during the recent conflict.
It's not a surprise that Abe chose to restrict his India visit this time for the 12th IndoJapan Annual Summit Meeting in Gandhinagar to Gujarat only given the western state’s growing ties with Japan. Around $1 billion worth foreign direct investment (FDI) has flown into Gujarat from Japanese companies and agencies, and the number is expected to double in the coming years.
While Abe is here for the foundation stone-laying ceremony for India's first highspeed train project, popularly called the Bullet train, between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, around 15 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed on September 14 in Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. Of this, four Japanese corporate giants are expected to sign investment proposals worth ~1 lakh crore each. The total investment, including SME investments and the bullet train, is expected to cross ~5 lakh crore.
The two-day visit of the Japanese premier that began with a warm hug between the two country heads started on a high note on Wednesday afternoon at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in the city, which was ready with a high-octane cultural kaleidoscope.
Abe was greeted by Buddhist monks while hundreds of artists performed folk dance forms as the two leaders walked the red carpet. Abe was also accorded a tri-services guard of honour.
Soon after alighting at the airport, Abe and his wife changed into traditional Indian attires (Abe sported a royal blue Nehru jacket and Akie Abe a pink silk kurta), as they drove through an eightkm stretch from the Sabarmati River Front to the Gandhi Ashram. Over 3,000 students and 1,500 performers presented a slice of India at 28 points dotted along this route. Folk dance forms from 28 states of India were performed for the Japanese delegation that was clicking photographs as the convoy passed. Modi, Abe and his wife waved at the cheering crowd. Dinner was an all-vegetarian affair prepared by Indian and Japanese chefs.
cubic metres of concrete in various components of the structure tonnes of cement Acquiring 825 hectares of land may become a major hurdle for the completing the MumbaiAhmedabad bullet train project by 2022.
Experts said advancing the project’s deadline by a year to August 2022 may not be feasible considering the complex land acquisition process involved.
Of the ~1.10 lakh crore investment required for the project, Japan is providing ~88,000 crore as a soft loan at 0.01 per cent interest. However, release of the Japanese funding is linked to land acquisition.
“We are expecting land acquisition to be completed within one-and-a-half years. Japan has provided ~6,000 crore as the first tranche of the loan for setting up the Sabarmati station and a high-speed rail training institute. The remaining loan will be provided after the land acquisition is complete,” said a source close to the development. Though the initial land requirement was 1,650 hectares, the National High Speed Rail Corporation settled on 825 hectares by including an elevated stretch.
Initial feasibility reports have identified 163 villages in eight districts of Gujarat, 44 villages in three districts of Maharashtra and some areas in Dadra and Nagar Haveli for land acquisition. About 2,761 families will be tonnes of steel
tonnes of cement demand expected annually during construction affected.
Among the affected families, 1,653 are house owners, 847 have a member who is an employee of a business or commercial establishment likely to be affected by the project, and 116 are tenants. The remaining 5 per cent of families fall in the category of registered leaseholders, illegal occupiers and others.
Around 1,688 structures in 207 villages will be affected by the project. Asked how confident the government was about completing the project by 2022, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said, “We are confident, considering the pace at which the Modi government has completed all its projects.”
The 508-km line will cover 156 km in Maharashtra, 351 km in Gujarat and 2 km in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It will have a 21 km tunnel with 7 km under sea in Thane Creek.
The line will have 12 stations in Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati. The bullet train will run at a speed of 320-350 km per hour.
“In the initial stage, the route will have 35 trains with 10 coaches each, which will be increased to 105 trains by 2023,” an official said.
A major advantage of the bullet train is its 2.58 hour run. A flight on the same route takes 1.20 hours.