Rlys expect new govt to expedite bullet train projects
Mahendra Kumar Singh
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New Delhi:
TNN
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Corridor To Ahmedabad On Top Of List
Bullet trains will soon be a reality. If Narendra Modi takes charge as Prime Minister, as predicted by a slew of exit polls, the Railways could well begin work on high-speed corridorsthe Gujarat chief minister’s pet project. Modi repeatedly referred to bullet rains during his campaign speeches and high-speed trains found a prominent space in BJP’s election manifesto.According to sources, Mumbai-Ahmedabad and New Delhi-Patna (via Varanasi) corridors are on top of the list and the national transporter is planning to accelerate these projects.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor, expected to cost Rs 63,000 crore, is on track as the Railways have announced that a feasibility study will be completed by May 2015.
The train will run at a maximum speed of 320kmph and will traverse the 534km distance between the two cities in two hours.
Atop railway official argued that the costs of high speed train travel can be brought down in the country because of the economy of scale and indigenization. “The company is geared up to implement the project. We are waiting for the new
government to take a call on high speed trains,” said Satish Agnihotri, CMD, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) and Chairman of the High Speed Rail Corporation (HSRC).Agnihotri claimed bullet train projects are financially viable, despite being capital intensive as costs could be brought down by pursuing an indigenisation policy. He said coaches for bullet trains could be manufactured in India by transfer of technology which would cut down the costs. He also contested the idea that highspeed trains are meant for rich as high speed travel costs can be brought down by working on the economies of scale, considering massive passenger traffic.
As Modi has promised to connect the country with highspeed trains, the national transporter is optimistic that the capital intensive project would be fast-tracked if the saffron outfit comes to power in Centre.
The corporation is already working on a project to raise the speed limit on Delhi–Agra section to 160 kmph for bringing down total journey time from 130 minutes to less than 100 minutes while ensuring superior riding quality and pleasant travel experience.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor, expected to cost Rs 63,000 crore, is on track as the Railways have announced that a feasibility study will be completed by May 2015.
The train will run at a maximum speed of 320kmph and will traverse the 534km distance between the two cities in two hours.
Atop railway official argued that the costs of high speed train travel can be brought down in the country because of the economy of scale and indigenization. “The company is geared up to implement the project. We are waiting for the new
government to take a call on high speed trains,” said Satish Agnihotri, CMD, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) and Chairman of the High Speed Rail Corporation (HSRC).Agnihotri claimed bullet train projects are financially viable, despite being capital intensive as costs could be brought down by pursuing an indigenisation policy. He said coaches for bullet trains could be manufactured in India by transfer of technology which would cut down the costs. He also contested the idea that highspeed trains are meant for rich as high speed travel costs can be brought down by working on the economies of scale, considering massive passenger traffic.
As Modi has promised to connect the country with highspeed trains, the national transporter is optimistic that the capital intensive project would be fast-tracked if the saffron outfit comes to power in Centre.
The corporation is already working on a project to raise the speed limit on Delhi–Agra section to 160 kmph for bringing down total journey time from 130 minutes to less than 100 minutes while ensuring superior riding quality and pleasant travel experience.
