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Former Japanese Minister Hideki Makihara alleged Indian officials repeatedly failed to honour commitments on bullet train project and pursued “self-interest” during negotiations.
Addressing a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India-Japan discussion on Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed rail is in fact progressing well.
India on Friday dismissed allegations by a former Japanese minister over a “delay” in the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project as “individual opinion” and asserted that construction work has rapidly progressed.
Addressing a press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India-Japan discussion on Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed rail is in fact progressing well.
“We have seen the post. It is an individual opinion and at considerable variance with facts. India-Japan discussion on Ahmedabad-Mumbai high-speed rail is in fact progressing well. Japan will provide the E20 train series, but only in the early 2030s. The train in question is still in development. Meanwhile, construction work has rapidly progressed. The first section will be opened in 2027 itself. Therefore, both sides agreed to start the Indian high-speed train,” he said.
Former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara alleged Indian officials repeatedly failed to honour commitments and pursued “self-interest” during negotiations on the Shinkansen project.
On allegations of Japan being excluded from the signalling system in the bullet train project, the MEA said the signalling equipment has been ordered accordingly and in line with international specifications. “No Japanese offer was received in this context. The project is in line with the common goal of starting the high-speed train project at the earliest,” he added.
India’s Bullet Train Project
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, India’s first bullet train project, spans 508 km and aims to provide high-speed connectivity between Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor uses Japanese Shinkansen technology and is partially funded by the Japanese government’s Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through long-term concessional loans.
Starting from the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai, trains operating at speeds of up to 320 kmph will transform intercity travel and strengthen economic integration among Mumbai, Vapi, Surat, Anand, Vadodara and Ahmedabad.
The corridor will have stations at Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati. The journey will take about 2 hours and 7 minutes for limited-stop services, halting only at Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad, significantly reducing travel time compared with conventional rail and road transport.
India aims to open the first operational section of its bullet train corridor in 2027, with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stating the Surat-Bilimora stretch may open by August 15, 2027. Japan has confirmed its full support for this 2027 target.
About the Author
Saurabh Verma is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, specializing in Indian politics, national current affairs, and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking power shifts, election strateg…Read More
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