Bullet train project likely to be delayed

Mitsubishi Corporation fails to give the go-ahead

Ahmedabad will have to wait for at least five years for the Rs 35,000-crore bullet train project to kick off.

The soil testing report by Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation has not been favourable for the project.

However, the ministry of Railways has appointed consultants from Germany, Italy and South to carry out further feasibility studies. The proposed bullet train is to be run between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

"The result of the viability study conducted by Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan was not been encouraging. We have to look into various aspects as the train would run at a speed of around 300 kilometres per hour. Passenger safety is our prime concern. We have not scrapped the project yet and I am optimistic that new survey reports would be encouraging," Naransinh Rathwa, Union minister of state for Railways, said on Friday.

Recently, a Japanese team visited the city to conduct the feasibility study of the project and submitted its initial findings to the Ministry of Railways. The bullet train is expected to cover the distance between Ahmedabad and Mumbai within two hours, with an average speed of around 300 kilometres per hour.

"It is a big project with a lot of investments required. The ministry will approve funds for the project only after receiving the final feasibility study. It may take as long as five years to give a final shape to the project," said Rathwa.

The second feasibility study is expected to be submitted to the railways in the next one year, which would require the approvals of the Planning Commission, the Prime Minister's office, along with approval of finance ministry, before coming to the railways for final implementation.

"We do not have the required infrastructure to run the bullet train. Lots of things will have to be taken into consideration before commencement of the train. Pricing would be an important matter. With the commencement of low-cost airlines, one can travel to Mumbai at rates less than that for air conditioned trains," said a senior railway official here.

The bullet train would be targetted to lure frequent flyers as the bullet train is expected to halt at Vadodara and Surat before touching Mumbai.

With Ahmedabad getting the status of 'mega city,' the minister assured full support from the railways for the commencement of metro rail project, which is expected to be developed in association with the state government.