The bullet train project connecting Ahmedabad with Mumbai, conceived by former railway ministers Digvijay Singh and Nitish Kumar, finally seems to have started gaining momentum with Tokyo-based Pacific Consultants Limited, initiating the techno-economic feasibility study.
A team of Japanese experts from PCL started survey operations on Wednesday after holding a series of meetings with Western Railway and Gujarat government officials.
They stressed on upgrading the existing railway tracks between Mumbai and Ahmedabad and shifting a few stations to new destinations.
Kotani Yoshinori, head of the Japanese delegation said, "We were earlier involved with the Metro Rail project in New Delhi, which has turned out to be extremely successful."
Now we have been assigned the task of examining the viability of running bullet trains between Mumbai and Ahmedabad and also connecting Mumbai with New Delhi. We expect our report for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad sector to be filed first."
Yoshinori added, "If the government finds the project feasible and gives it a go ahead, bullet trains could ply on a trial basis within three to four years."
The Commissioner of Surat Municipal Corporation, G R Aloria said, "The PCL team has suggested relocation of the Surat station. We have already offered them a new place for bullet train. The team also surveyed Vapi and Vadodara stations and the railway track connecting these stations."
The PCL team also recommended strengthening of a number of railway bridges between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, including bridges over the rivers Narmada and Mahi.
Lalit Mohan Sahore, divisional railway manager, Western Railway said, "Presently, we are studying the feasibility of the bullet train project. It is a project involving large investment and once the feasibility report is submitted by the Japanese team, we will approach the Ministry for funds," said Minister of State for Railways, Naran Rathwa.
"Initially, it seems that over Rs 2,500 crore (Rs 25 billion) would be needed to connect Mumbai with Ahmedabad via Surat. The bullet train will move at a speed of over 300 kilometres per hour. We are also planning to send a team of experts to Japan, as the Central Japan Railway Company wants our officials to be exposed to this dream project, before the work gets underway," he said.
Rathwa also said that upgrading the existing railway track would cost around Rs 40 crore (Rs 400 million) per kilometre against the normal price of Rs 15 crore (Rs 150 million) per kilometre for tracks which can handle fast trains like the Rajdhani Express and Shatabdi.
"Funds will not be a constraint for this project and we may also approach the Ministry of Finance if additional funds are required," Rathwa added.