Advertisement

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Heads Into Further Uncertainty


Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Heads Into Further Uncertainty
SHARES

The ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project has seen multiple hurdles, and it seems like there are a few more on the way. 

The Indian Railways has been unable to offer a completion deadline for the project due to a combination of multiple factors on the proposed route. Further, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHRCL) is yet to find a suitable bidder for an underground station at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) even after a year.

In the most recent development, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, Suneet Sharma was unable to provide information on the completion deadline for the project. 

“On the Gujarat portion, we have acquired 95 per cent of land and the remaining portion will also happen. In Maharashtra, there are issues with land acquisition even at Bandra Kurla Complex or for the under-water tunnel. We have started work wherever land is being made available and the contract is being awarded,” Sharma said on June 2. 

Indian Railways previously said that the bullet train project will conclude by 2023. However, the uncertainty around multiple factors has led to the project being at a standstill. Reports also talk of possible political differences between the Maharashtra Government and the Centre as being a contributor to the delay.

ReadMumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: L&T Bags Contract For India’s 1st High-Speed Rail Corridor

In the most recent Union Budget, ₹7,897 crores were allocated for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project. While the government has acquired up to 23 per cent of the required land in Maharashtra, some problems have been reported at Dahanu with some locals raising their opposition to the project. 

The story is somewhat different in Gujarat, where tenders for 325 km of the full 350 km stretch have been awarded to contractors. The state will have a total of eight stations with contracts being awarded for five of them so far. 

Test tracks for the bullet train will be brought in from Japan and the trials taking place between a 50 km portion between Bilimora and Surat. Officials have said that a total of 49 trains from Japan under series E5 Shinkansen will be used for this project.

Also readAlert Central Railway Motorman Saves Life By Braking In Time

RELATED TOPICS
Advertisement
MumbaiLive would like to send you latest news updates