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News18
21-05-2025
- Business
- News18
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Progresses With 300 Km Elevated Track
Last Updated: The completion of300 km of viaduct work marks a significant milestone in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has reached a significant milestone with 300 km of viaduct work completed. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw today, May 20, announced the achievement on X (formerly Twitter). The minister shared the update via a video clip on the social media platform. The first bullet train project in India, being carried out by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), has reached a significant milestone with this breakthrough. To ensure speed, limit land acquisition concerns, and prevent level crossings, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is primarily being built on viaducts. The train line is maintained above ground by these viaducts, which are elevated tracks usually composed of concrete girders and supports. The NHSRCL reported in November 2023 that the corridor's 250 km of piers and 100 km of viaduct had been completed. 'Progress of Bullet Train project: Till date: 21.11.2023. Pillars: 251.40 km. Elevated super-structure: 103.24 km," in a previous post on X, Railway Minister Vaishnaw included a video showing the current work. advetisement The NHSRCL claims that the viaduct work spans the Par, Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, Auranga, and Venganiya, the six main rivers in Gujarat. They are situated in the districts of Navsari and Valsad. The via ducts are constructed with segmental girders and full-span box girders that are 40 meters long. Along the constructed sections, noise barriers are already being put in place. As per TOI, there are also additional important componentsunder construction. The first reinforced concrete track bed, modelled after Japan's Shinkansen 'J-slab ballastless" track system, was laid in Surat, making it the first installation of its kind in India. A 350-meter mountain tunnel in Valsad was also completed as part of the project, and the first of 28 steel bridges, a 70-meter structure, was built in Surat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid the cornerstone of the bullet train line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad on September 14, 2017. NHSRCL was established in February 2016 and operates as a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Railways. The national government and the state governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra share equity in the company. The high-speed rail corridor is anticipated to revolutionise travel between the two cities once it is operational, bringing Japanese Shinkansen technology to India and drastically cutting down on journey time. Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India — including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news, EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
300km viaduct completed: Sneak peek into India's first bullet train project; watch video
NEW DELHI: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has achieved a key milestone with the completion of 300 km of viaduct work, union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Tuesday. The update was shared in a video posted by the minister on social media platform X. This development marks India's first bullet train project, which is being executed by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). In November 2023, the NHSRCL had reported the completion of 100 km of viaduct and 250 km of pier work along the corridor. "Progress of Bullet Train project: Till date: 21.11.2023. Pillars: 251.40 km. Elevated super-structure: 103.24 km," Vaishnaw had said in a previous post on X, alongside a video showing ongoing construction. According to NHSRCL, the viaduct work includes structures over six major rivers in Gujarat: Par, Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, Auranga, and Venganiya. These are located in the Valsad and Navsari districts. The viaducts are built using 40-metre-long full span box girders and segmental girders, and noise barriers are already being installed along constructed stretches. Construction on other key components is also underway. In Surat, the first reinforced concrete track bed, based on Japan's Shinkansen 'J-slab ballastless' track system, has been laid—marking the first such installation in India. Additionally, the project achieved the breakthrough of a 350-metre-long mountain tunnel in Valsad and erected the first of 28 planned steel bridges, a 70-metre structure, in Surat. The bullet train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe on September 14, 2017. NHSRCL, incorporated in February 2016, functions as a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Railways with equity participation from the central government, as well as the state governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Once operational, the high-speed rail corridor is expected to transform travel between the two cities, significantly reducing travel time while introducing Japanese Shinkansen technology to India. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Japan Forward
24-04-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
India's Quest for a Bullet Train: Where It Stands Now
On a warm, sunny morning in September 2017 in the Western city of Ahmedabad, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe jointly laid the foundation stone for India's historic first high-speed rail project. Popularly known as the bullet train project, it would connect Ahmedabad to India's financial capital, Mumbai. As a reporter present there, I can attest to the excitement and fanfare that reached a fever pitch. The project was widely regarded as a quantum leap in India's development journey ー with the help of its trusted friend, Japan. Prime Minister Abe was accorded a grand welcome. The city of Ahmedabad decked up all throughout the route of his cavalcade's journey. Prime Minister Modi also joined in the parade. The high-speed rail project's groundbreaking ceremony was the clear highlight of that bilateral visit, which further solidified India-Japan relations and elevated Mr Abe as one of the most popular heads of state. Indians recognized his steadfast commitment to Japan's role in advancing the country's stride towards becoming a developed nation. Much has happened since then. Originally planned for a 2022 launch, the bullet train project has hit several delays. There were multiple reasons, but one was the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, unfortunately, one of the original visionaries of this project, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was assassinated in Japan. His loss was deeply felt in India, too. Now, the project has a revised deadline of 2026 for a partial launch. At the same time, it remains one of the most enigmatic and symbolic infrastructure projects in India's modern history. Bullet train construction in Ahmedabad, India. (©National High-Speed Rail Corporation) Despite the excitement surrounding the project, there were multiple teething troubles. At the very beginning, land acquisition became a huge obstacle as multiple farmer organizations raised their dissatisfaction at the allegedly inadequate compensation proposals. They further objected that land had been earmarked for takeover without proper consultations and assessment of the entire project's impact on them. One highlighted problem was from a socio-economic perspective. Farmers widely believed that because they came from a poorer background, riding on the bullet train would remain out of their reach. Back in 2018, I interviewed multiple farmers who were agitating against the project near Mumbai. All of them echoed the same sentiment ー that the bullet train was an amenity for the rich. Poor farmers, they argued, were being asked to sacrifice their ancestral lands for a 'vanity' project. I reached out to a couple of them for this report, and their mindset had changed quite a bit. Mr Moreshwar Balya Douda (63), who was one of the village heads organizing resistance to the project, was one. He said: (©National High Speed Rail Corporation) "We may not actually use the bullet train, but we later realized that it might bring a lot of prosperity to the region as it could become an industrial hub. Our children need jobs, and with industrialization, well-paying jobs can become a reality here." Douda is a resident of Palghar, one of the less industrialized districts of Maharashtra state. He lives around a 2-hour drive from the state's capital city, Mumbai. Eventually, by offering more compensation through a sustained dialogue and minor changes in the route, the government won over the farmers. However, it did consume a lot of time. Environmental impact concerns were also a cause of delay. The high-speed rail corridor would pass through an ecologically sensitive mangrove forest region near the coastal areas of Mumbai. It necessitated the cutting down of thousands of trees. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC), the organization responsible for implementing the project, was required to submit extensive mitigation plans. These detailed the efforts it would undertake to offset the loss of mangrove forests. Multiple lawsuits were filed, and they dragged on for years. Japan has been an indispensable partner in this project. Very recently, it was reported that Japan would gift India E3 and E5 series Shinkansen trains for free to run trials. This additional help followed the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)'s significant loan to India at the inception of the project. At that time, JICA earmarked a loan for INR 880 billion ($10.3 billion USD) at a very nominal interest rate. That prompted PM Modi to term the project "a big gift from Japan to India" However, because of the complexities of the project, there was also some friction over the years, leading to delays. For example, according to the JICA loan contract, only Japanese Shinkansen makers can apply for tenders to sell trains to India. However, their tender filing has been delayed. The delay did not go well with India, which considered using indigenously made bullet trains to ply on this route instead of Japanese Shinkansen. It prompted India's railway minister, Mr Ashwini Vaishnaw, to visit Japan in December 2024 to iron out the differences. Japan's recent decision to gift E3 and E5 series trains and the renewed vigor in the project can be attributed to Mr Vaishnaw's Tokyo visit. (©National High Speed Rail Corporation) Initially pegged to cost INR 1080 billion ($12.65 billion ), the cost has ballooned due to the delays. Estimates now exceed INR 1600 billion ($18.7 billion ). Nevertheless, the work is now going on in full steam. And the adjusted 2026 deadline for partial launch of the high-speed rail looks plausible. As of April 15, according to data shared exclusively with JAPAN Forward by the NHSRC, 298 km out of a total 508 km of viaduct construction between Ahmedabad and Mumbai has been completed. Pier work, girder casting, and pier foundation are in place for 374 km, 320 km, and 393 km, respectively. There are 12 stations planned, and work has started on the 3 elevated stations. NHSRC has also started working on seven mountain tunnels and one undersea tunnel, the first of its kind in India. The 21 km tunnel connecting two areas within Mumbai has also started. Japan has already made an indelible imprint on India's development story. Be it the Maruti Suzuki-inspired personal vehicle revolution or the construction of Delhi Metro, one of the longest metro routes in the world that has transformed Delhi's transportation landscape, Japan's partnership is second to none. (©National High Speed Rail Corporation) Once partially completed, when the first bullet train rolls out in Gujarat, it will be a monument to India's aspirations and progress. Just as importantly, though, it represents the enduring nature of the special strategic relationship India and Japan share. Despite certain hiccups, the present numbers clearly show how the project is being steamrolled. The government of India recently stated that, beyond the connectivity part, once completed, this project would transform the economic landscape of Ahmedabad and the entire corridor. For a country like India, which still has extreme poverty and suffers from underdevelopment, such a project of regional connectivity can be truly transformative. Look for it to usher in a new era of development far beyond its identity as just a rail connection. Author: Devadeep Chowdhury (New Delhi)
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan's PM to seek 'personal relationship' with Trump
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to meet with Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, as the Japanese leader hopes to cement ties with the country's primary foreign partner. US and Japanese officials said economic and security concerns - particularly North Korea - will be high on the agenda, along with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Ishiba and Japanese officials said that the main purpose of the visit, however, is to forge personal ties with Trump - who had a warm relationship with former PM Shinzo Abe during his first term. The visit marks the first by an Asian leader to the White House since Trump's second administration began in January. The White House visit is the second by a foreign leader during the new administration, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's whirlwind trip earlier this week. Netanyahu gifts Trump a golden pager during US visit Trump says Israel will hand over Gaza to US after fighting ends 'Angry', 'numb' - Palestinian Americans on Trump's Gaza comments "It will be our first face-to-face talks," Ishiba told reporters before leaving for Washington. "I would like to focus on building a personal relationship of trust between the two of us." During Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021, he grew close to then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, bonding over golf. Abe resigned in 2020 and was assassinated two years later. Japanese officials said that Ishiba made "every possible preparation" for his meeting with Trump, including seeking advice from Abe's widow - who attended the inauguration as a guest of Melania Trump - and from his predecessor, Fumio Kishida. Senior Trump administration officials described the visit as primarily focused on "peace and prosperity" in the Pacific. Trump is likely to bring up realistic training exercises between the US military and Japan's Self-Defence Forces, as well as cooperation on defence investment. The White House said that semiconductors and artificial intelligence also would be on the agenda. From the Japanese perspective, Ishiba is expected to underscore Japan's role as a major economic partner for the US, and highlight that Japan has been the top foreign investor in the US for five consecutive years. Among multinational firms, Japanese companies are the largest job creators in 10 states and the second largest in another six. In Kentucky alone, Japanese companies employ more than 45,000 people, primarily in auto equipment manufacturing. Defence and security discussions also are likely, including Japan's recent commitment to raise defence spending to 2% - far below the 5% that Trump has called for among Nato allies - as well as the US commitment to Taiwan's defence and mutual concerns about North Korea. Japanese officials consider North Korea's growing military ties with Russia worrisome, particularly the prospect of Russian missile technology being transferred to their ally. Trump administration officials said it shares Japan's "commitment" to a de-nuclearised North Korea.
BBC News
07-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Japan's prime minister to seek 'personal relationship' with Trump
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to meet with Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, as the Japanese leader hopes to cement ties with the country's primary foreign partner. US and Japanese officials said economic and security concerns - particularly North Korea - will be high on the agenda, along with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Ishiba and Japanese officials said that the main purpose of the visit, however, is to forge personal ties with Trump - who had a warm relationship with former PM Shinzo Abe during his first term. The visit marks the first by an Asian leader to the White House since Trump's second administration began in January. The White House visit is the second by a foreign leader during the new administration, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's whirlwind trip earlier this week. Netanyahu gifts Trump a golden pager during US visitTrump says Israel will hand over Gaza to US after fighting ends'Angry', 'numb' - Palestinian Americans on Trump's Gaza comments"It will be our first face-to-face talks," Ishiba told reporters before leaving for Washington. "I would like to focus on building a personal relationship of trust between the two of us." During Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021, he grew close to then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, bonding over golf. Abe resigned in 2020 and was assassinated two years officials said that Ishiba made "every possible preparation" for his meeting with Trump, including seeking advice from Abe's widow - who attended the inauguration as a guest of Melania Trump - and from his predecessor, Fumio Kishida. Senior Trump administration officials described the visit as primarily focused on "peace and prosperity" in the Pacific. Trump is likely to bring up realistic training exercises between the US military and Japan's Self-Defence Forces, as well as cooperation on defence investment. The White House said that semiconductors and artificial intelligence also would be on the the Japanese perspective, Ishiba is expected to underscore Japan's role as a major economic partner for the US, and highlight that Japan has been the top foreign investor in the US for five consecutive years. Among multinational firms, Japanese companies are the largest job creators in 10 states and the second largest in another six. In Kentucky alone, Japanese companies employ more than 45,000 people, primarily in auto equipment and security discussions also are likely, including Japan's recent commitment to raise defence spending to 2% - far below the 5% that Trump has called for among Nato allies - as well as the US commitment to Taiwan's defence and mutual concerns about North officials consider North Korea's growing military ties with Russia worrisome, particularly the prospect of Russian missile technology being transferred to their administration officials said it shares Japan's "commitment" to a de-nuclearised North Korea.
