Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train

Subject: Infrastructure

Context: The National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) is discussing with its Japanese partner the possibility of operating the high-speed trains in Gujarat in the first phase and later extending it to Maharashtra.

Concept:

• 95 per cent land has been acquired in Gujarat and Rs 32,500 crore worth of tenders already awarded for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.
• It is under-construction high-speed rail line connecting the cities of Ahmedabad and India’s economic hub Mumbai with the help of Japan.
• It will be built with the help of Japan through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
• Bullet train or High Speed Rail is an integrated system having overall optimization of various components, viz. Hardware, Software, Human-ware, and their interface, etc.
• The train, with a capacity of 750 passengers, will travel at speeds between 320 km/hr and 350km/hr and is expected to reduce travel time between Ahmedabad and Mumbai to three-and-a-half hours or less from the present eight.
• Potential benefit: High-speed connectivity; new job opportunities; Urban expansion; make India favorable destination for high-speed train technologies; Social Benefits (reduced CO2 emission, comparatively less land required than a 6-lane highway for same passenger capacity).

About NHSRCL

• NHSRCL) was incorporated on 12th February 2016 under the Companies Act, 2013 with an object to finance, construct, maintain and manage the High Speed Rail Corridor in India.
• The Company has been modelled as ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ in the joint sector with equity participation by Central Government through Ministry of Railways and two State Governments viz. Government of Gujarat and Government of Maharashtra.