Bullet Trains in India | List of Bullet Trains
The Indian Railways is considered to be one of the largest in the world. All the main cities and the rural villages are connected with each other with the extensive network of railways. With the development of the railways, it has become easier to commute between places. These not only carry passengers but also carry goods. The industrial locations rely heavily on the railways for the transportation of raw materials and finished goods. A lot of progress has been made in the sector, since the first steam engine that ran from the city of Bombay to Thane, on 16th April 1853, under the them British rule.
Due to the vastness of the nation, the Indian Railways has been categorized into many sections. They are – Northern Railways. North-Eastern Railways, North-East Frontier Railways, Eastern Railways, South-Eastern Railways, South-Central Railways, Southern Railways, Central Railways, Western Railways, South-Western Railways, North-Western Railways, West-Central Railways, North-Central Railways, South-East Central Railways, East Cost Railways, and East Central Railways.
High-speed trains in India
There are many types of trains, running all over the nation and connection one place with the other. But there are no high-pace trains plying in the country as of now. The necessity of these trains has been felt for a long time, and the major political parties tried to cash in on demand. Both BJP and INC highlighted this in their election agenda. The election went in favor of the BJP, and now, it is time for PM Modi to implement the promises that he made.
Talks are on about starting the high speed or the Bullet trains in the country. Before the implementation of the project, the government needs to make the necessary preparations. Without these, the project will not be successful. The fastest sleeper current running in the country is Gatimaan Express. It joins the main cities of Agra and Delhi. The highest speed of this train is 160 km/hr. The government is trying to introduce more fast trains. These will not only save time but will also give the passengers a lot of associated comforts.
The main aspect that the government is worried about is the cost of implementing the fast train or Bullet train project. For laying down a length of 1 km high-speed tracks, the cost that the government will have to incur is almost 14 times more than the laying of normal tracks. For a length of 1 km normal tracks, the government will have to shell out 100 crores to 140 crores. Thus, the project will be initiated in some parts for the time being, and other places will be brought under the scheme eventually.
Indo-Japan collaboration on Bullet Trains
There are many countries, which have been benefited by the high-speed sleepers. It is about time that India too joined the group. During his last visit to Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cracked a deal with the Japanese government for lending a helping hand in the completion of the project. Shinzo Abe has agreed to help India both with money and technical expertise to make the dream of Bullet Trains a reality. It will be an expensive project and will require about 1 lakh crore. Japan has agreed to bear also 80 percent of the total cost for the time being. This economic support has been meted out in the form of credit. The Indian government will have to clear the debt within a time span of 50 years. The rate of interest will be charged at 0.1%. It is estimated that if all thighs go as planned, then the Bullet train will be inaugurated in the year 2023.
What have critics to say about the project?
Many critics do not see the project in good light due to the huge pressure that the loan will create on the budget and internal economy of the nation. They are also questioning about the fruitfulness and profitability of the project. Many state-run transport facilities have been shut down on due to the generation of low profit. The implementation of the Bullet trains looks like making castles in the air. The critics also say that the amount that the government will have to pay for this project is far greater than the amount it has very spent on the development of the educational development.
Benefits of the Bullet Train
Suresh Prabhu, the current Railway Minister, has divulged some of the details of the project. He mentioned that the planning committee is working on the proposal. The task is progressing as per schedule. For now, the project is focused on the starting the trains from the city of Ahmedabad to Mumbai. When functioning, the distance of 508 km between the two cities will be covered within just 2 hours. The Bullet trains have the capability of running at top speed of 350 km/hr, but they will operate at a pace of 320 km/hr.
Apart from reaching the destination in a short time, you will be able to enjoy state of the art facilities. These facilities will be provided so that the passengers experience the utmost comfort and luxury. This has been done so that the passengers feel that they are getting the best worth of the money they have paid.
Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Corridor
The Bullet train has been proposed to be set up in the western part of the country. The Mumbai- Ahmedabad has been selected as the two terminus points. Japanese International Cooperation Agency has been holding meetings with the Indian Railway department for understanding the needs of the people. After a lot of planning and deliberations, they have selected the two cities for being the starting and terminal points.
The agency conducted soil tests to understand the strength of the area. The high-placed members of the agency came to Mumbai in the year 2014. Around 508 km of the corridor will be placed on the elevated platform. The tracks for the Bullet train will be laid on the raised platform.
Another interesting fact about the project is that a certain part of the corridor will be placed under the sea. The Bullet Train will run for a total distance of 21 km inside a tunnel. This tunnel will be constructed under the sea. As the project involves a lot of technical aspects, Japan will assist the nation in achieving success in all these areas. One can only imagine what the experience will be to travel in an ultra-fast train that will be traveling under the surface of the sea. The underwater tunnel will join Thane to Virar.
Estimated date of starting the project
According to the planning committee, the actual work of construction of the Bullet Train project will be started in the year 2018. If all goes well, you can expect to ride the ultra-fast train in the year 2023.
Other Articles