PM Modi Announces Big Rail Plan in Japan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Japan, said that India plans to build a 7,000 km long high-speed rail network. He explained that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, which is being developed with Japan’s help, will be the first step. Passenger services on this route are expected to start in the next few years.
“The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail is moving forward well. But our bigger goal is to build a 7,000 km high-speed rail network in India,” PM Modi told The Yomiuri Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper.
Role of Japan and Make in India
PM Modi invited Japanese companies to join India’s high-speed rail projects. He also said that much of the work will be done under the Make in India program so that the projects are sustainable and cost-effective.
Speaking at the India-Japan Economic Forum in Tokyo, he highlighted India’s progress in transport over the last decade. He said, “India’s port capacity has doubled, there are now more than 160 airports, and 1,000 km of metro lines have been built. Work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train with Japan is also underway.”
Plans for More Bullet Train Corridors
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also confirmed in Parliament that the government has started preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for new high-speed rail corridors. These are being planned to connect major cities and tourist destinations.
The possible new routes include:
- Delhi – Varanasi
- Delhi – Ahmedabad
- Mumbai – Nagpur
- Mumbai – Hyderabad
- Chennai – Mysore
- Delhi – Amritsar
- Varanasi – Howrah
India’s Railway Future
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train is only the beginning. With Japan’s support and a strong push for Make in India, the government’s vision of a 7,000 km bullet train network could soon change the way India travels.
