India’s ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor project, which was launched in 2017, is taking a new direction as the government has opted to abandon the import of Shinkansen (bullet) trains from Japan. Instead, the Indian government has chosen to go with a “Make-in-India” approach, awarding the contract in September to a joint venture between BEML Ltd and Medha Servo Drives, which is responsible for manufacturing the Vande Bharat trains.
This shift comes after talks between India and Japan stalled over the procurement of Shinkansen trains. In September, Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other officials visited Japan to resolve the pending issues, but negotiations remained inconclusive. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which had committed to funding Rs 59,396 crore for the project, is still supporting the initiative, though discussions on the loan terms are being renegotiated to ensure the project’s timely completion.
Breakdown of Negotiations
The breakdown in talks between India and Japan over the Shinkansen trains can be attributed to several factors. Key issues included disagreements over the cost of the trains, delays in land acquisition, and changes in technical specifications for the joint venture. The Japanese government had initially expressed concerns about modifications made by India to the track design, particularly regarding an increase in the number of elevated sections, which it argued would add to the project’s cost and timeline.
Japan had advised against the rise in the elevated sections of the track, as this would lengthen the construction period and pose potential safety risks, such as collisions with people and animals. The original plan involved an elevated track covering 144 kilometers (28% of the total track length), but the revised plan now proposes that nearly 90% of the track be elevated. This change was made to reduce land acquisition costs, a key challenge in the project due to farmer protests over compensation.
Project Timeline
The MAHSR project, which aims to connect Mumbai with Ahmedabad, has been plagued by delays. Initially set for completion by December 2023, the project has been pushed back due to land acquisition challenges, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Construction began in 2020, and while civil contracts for the project have been awarded, farmers’ protests have slowed down the pace of work.
In March 2024, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), responsible for overseeing the project, confirmed that 100% of the land required across Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli had been acquired by January 8. Despite the progress, physical work completion stood at 57.4% as of October, falling short of the target of 61.1%.
The financial progress, however, is on track, with 63.45% of the funds allocated for the project already spent, amounting to Rs 76,635.49 crore by October 2024. The total expenditure for the fiscal year 2023-24 was Rs 9,246.26 crore.
Bullet Train Service Timeline
While the project continues to progress, the first bullet train, expected to be delivered from Japan, is now anticipated to arrive by 2027. The train will be operational between Vapi and Sabarmati in Gujarat by August 2027, signaling a key milestone in India’s high-speed rail ambitions.
With the shift towards manufacturing trains domestically and the continued support of JICA, India is committed to completing this transformative infrastructure project, albeit with new strategies and timelines.
