Indian railway system is preparing to take a giant leap forward as the Indian prime minister breaks ground on the country’s first bullet train project. Gujarat to Mumbai 217mph train will cut journey time from eight hours to three and is funded with low-interest Japanese loan.
Slamming the bullet train project, NDA ally Shiv Sena has stated that the project was not a dream of the common man but that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Sena, in an editorial in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, sought to know if the Ahmedabad-Mumbai high speed train project really fits into the needs of the country.
The criticism came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe laid the foundation stone of India’s first bullet train project in Ahmedabad.
“We are getting a bullet train without asking for it. We do not know exactly which problem will this problem solve,” the Sena said.
“(Former Prime Minister) Pandit (Jawaharlal) Nehru laid the foundation of several projects, from Bhakra Nangal to Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, to ensure the country advances in technology and science. All these projects were needed for the nation. Does this bullet train fit into the needs of the country?” the ally asked.
Out of the estimated Rs 1,08,000 crore cost of the project, at least Rs 30,000 crore would have to be shelled out by the Maharashtra government, it said.