The government will not relent to pressure from those demanding the suspension of the bullet train project, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday.
The ₹1.08 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Railway can strengthen the GDP, as similar projects have done for China and Japan, he said.
Mr. Fadnavis, while speaking in the State Council, said those raising doubts about the need for a high speed railway had a mentality similar to people who questioned the first aircraft flight. “When we constructed aviation infrastructure in this country, less than one per cent people were using the mode of transport. Globally, those who have improved mobility have progressed. We will not terminate the project under any circumstances,” he said.
The MAHSR was sanctioned by the Indian government in December 2015. The 508-km railway line will have 12 stations, of which Mumbai, Thane, Virar and Boisar are in Maharashtra. Mr. Fadnavis said his government is focused on improving the suburban rail network at the same time. A total of ₹40,000 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre for this purpose. “The planning for the bullet train was initiated by the then prime minister Manmohan Singhji in 2012. Therefore, there is no question of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route getting preference,” Mr Fadnavis said.
The Mumbai International Financial Centre will come up on a 50-hectare plot approved at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) by the central government. The State has demanded that the floor space index of this area be handed over to it to construct the MIFC. “Both the bullet train terminus and MIFC will come up at BKC,” the Chief Minister said.
