Bullet trains will be a reality soon in India. The contract to build the bullet train link between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is expected to be declared in favour of Japanese bullet train major Shinkansen at the weekend summit meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources have told The Hindu .
But the project, which is expected to be the high point of Mr. Abe’s December 11-13 visit, will have a new set of guidelines that Japan has reportedly extended a Rs. 98,000-crore loan for the ultra modern high-speed train project. The Hindu was told that the guidelines were prompted by Japanese experience with the DMRC project, which despite Japanese grant went on to buy coaches from rival countries. The new guidelines are meant to scuttle plans by rivals like China in the Indian infrastructure market. Another key initiative to be unveiled during the visit will cover transfer of technology in defence. Thanks to its pacific traditions, Japan has been holding on to transfer of technology which is necessary to enable India to order the U-2 amphibious planes in a deal which could not be finalised during Mr.Modi’s 2014 Japan visit. Mr. Abe is also expected to make “announcement regarding progress in the nuclear deal.”
