India may give a contract for its second high-speed rail to Japan, and both countries plan to work it out during the two-day Japan visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If it works out, it will be Japan’s second such project in India. The first was also a high-speed rail link based on the Shinkansen bull train technology, which connected Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The second project is expected to be developed in central India. Officials from both countries are discussing the proposals. Japan is keen to expand the high-speed rail network in India, and if the project gets completed, it will be a revolutionary step in terms of the time taken for train travel in India.
Engineering design work for the first link is expected to start by December next month. Japan provides financial help through a loan of up to 81% of the cost at a nominal interest rate of 0.1% annually. The Indian Railways has identified at least five other corridors Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Chennai, Delhi-Kolkata, Delhi-Nagpur, and Mumbai-Nagpur, for running 300 kmph or higher-speed trains. Studies regarding feasibility are being conducted for these routes.
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Besides Japan, China is also responsible for developing high-speed rail networks in India.
(Image: Indiatimes)
