Land acquisition woes threaten to derail Modi's 200 mph bullet train dream

The issues highlight the challenge Modi faces in implementing his flagship projects across railways, ports and airports to cement India's position as world's fastest growing economy

India’s bullet train project is moving at the pace of a commuter train instead.

A year after the project was kicked off, only 0.9 hectares of land have been acquired out of the 1,400 hectares needed, according to the Indian government company leading the project. The $15 billion facility, the highlight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s drive to upgrade infrastructure, is facing resistance from farmers unhappy with the compensation for land taken away from them.

The planned 316-mile line linking the financial capital of Mumbai with the economic hub of Ahmedabad -- roughly the distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco --