Bullet Train project progressing well: India rejects Japan ex-minister's claim
India trashed allegations by a former Japanese minister that the Bullet Train project had been delayed, saying that it was progressing well. Former Japanese minister Hideki Makihara blamed Indian officials, alleging that they repeatedly failed to honour commitments and pursued "self-interest" during negotiations.
India on Friday rejected allegations by a former Japanese minister that its officials were to blame for the delay in the Bullet Train project, built on the lines of Japan's Shinkansen high-speed railway. Former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara accused the Indian side of "sheer recklessness", alleging that officials repeatedly failed to honour commitments and pursued "self-interest" during negotiations on the project.
In a post on X on July 15, Makihara alleged a lack of progress in India's flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR), and said the delay was "entirely on the Indian side".
Makihara's comments were in response to an opinion piece on a Tokyo-based business news portal by Isao Tsujimura, a senior Japanese railway engineer and Delhi-based metro vehicle consultant, on July 15. Tsujimura argued that India's Bullet Train project had significantly diverged from the Shinkansen model.
The Indian government on Friday rejected allegations regarding the MAHSR 508-kilometre corridor that will connect Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex with Ahmedabad through 12 stations across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
"We have seen the post you are referring to. It is an individual opinion, and at considerable variance with facts," Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said.
"India-Japan discussions on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail are, in fact, progressing well. Japan will provide the E20 train series, but only in the early 2030s. The train in question is under development," said Jaiswal.
CONSTRUCTION WORK HAS RAPIDLY PROGRESSED, SAYS JAISWAL
Despite the criticism from the former Japanese minister, the project has recently crossed several construction milestones. "The construction work of the project has rapidly progressed, and the first section will be opened in 2027 itself," Jaiswal said on Friday.
Earlier on July 15, Indian authorities had announced that the first operational section of the bullet train, which would likely be between Gujarat's Surat and Bilimora.
Construction on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor has gathered pace in recent months, with work progressing rapidly on viaducts, tunnels and stations after years of delays caused largely by land acquisition hurdles and political changes in Maharashtra.
India is also laying the groundwork for manufacturing future high-speed trainsets domestically through Indian Railways' Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and BEML Limited, while continuing to receive Japanese technological support for the initial fleet.
The progress has further reinforced India's broader ambitions of developing a nationwide high-speed rail network, with proposed corridors connecting cities such as Delhi, Varanasi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Even as the project gathers momentum and the Indian government maintains that cooperation with Japan remains on track, the remarks by Japan's former minister have drawn attention to possible differences over the execution of the flagship India-Japan infrastructure project. The comments come at a time when construction is advancing at its fastest pace since the project was launched, even as New Delhi has rejected suggestions of any strain in its engagement with Tokyo.
INDIA REJECTS CLAIMS OF JAPANESE SIGNALLING EQUIPMENT
Japan's former minister, Makihara, in his post on X, claimed that there were no results from the Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to New Delhi in July.
Makihara further alleged that India "excluded Japan from the signal system", which is key for the safety of the bullet train.
MEA spokesperson on Friday rejected the allegation regarding the signal systems.
"The signalling equipment has been ordered accordingly and is in line with international specifications," the MEA spokesperson said.
"No Japanese offer was received in this context. The project execution is in line with the common goal of starting the high-speed train project at the earliest, Jaiswal added.
India on Friday rejected allegations by a former Japanese minister that its officials were to blame for the delay in the Bullet Train project, built on the lines of Japan's Shinkansen high-speed railway. Former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara accused the Indian side of "sheer recklessness", alleging that officials repeatedly failed to honour commitments and pursued "self-interest" during negotiations on the project.
In a post on X on July 15, Makihara alleged a lack of progress in India's flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR), and said the delay was "entirely on the Indian side".
Makihara's comments were in response to an opinion piece on a Tokyo-based business news portal by Isao Tsujimura, a senior Japanese railway engineer and Delhi-based metro vehicle consultant, on July 15. Tsujimura argued that India's Bullet Train project had significantly diverged from the Shinkansen model.
The Indian government on Friday rejected allegations regarding the MAHSR 508-kilometre corridor that will connect Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex with Ahmedabad through 12 stations across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
"We have seen the post you are referring to. It is an individual opinion, and at considerable variance with facts," Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said.
"India-Japan discussions on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail are, in fact, progressing well. Japan will provide the E20 train series, but only in the early 2030s. The train in question is under development," said Jaiswal.
CONSTRUCTION WORK HAS RAPIDLY PROGRESSED, SAYS JAISWAL
Despite the criticism from the former Japanese minister, the project has recently crossed several construction milestones. "The construction work of the project has rapidly progressed, and the first section will be opened in 2027 itself," Jaiswal said on Friday.
Earlier on July 15, Indian authorities had announced that the first operational section of the bullet train, which would likely be between Gujarat's Surat and Bilimora.
Construction on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor has gathered pace in recent months, with work progressing rapidly on viaducts, tunnels and stations after years of delays caused largely by land acquisition hurdles and political changes in Maharashtra.
India is also laying the groundwork for manufacturing future high-speed trainsets domestically through Indian Railways' Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and BEML Limited, while continuing to receive Japanese technological support for the initial fleet.
The progress has further reinforced India's broader ambitions of developing a nationwide high-speed rail network, with proposed corridors connecting cities such as Delhi, Varanasi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Even as the project gathers momentum and the Indian government maintains that cooperation with Japan remains on track, the remarks by Japan's former minister have drawn attention to possible differences over the execution of the flagship India-Japan infrastructure project. The comments come at a time when construction is advancing at its fastest pace since the project was launched, even as New Delhi has rejected suggestions of any strain in its engagement with Tokyo.
INDIA REJECTS CLAIMS OF JAPANESE SIGNALLING EQUIPMENT
Japan's former minister, Makihara, in his post on X, claimed that there were no results from the Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to New Delhi in July.
Makihara further alleged that India "excluded Japan from the signal system", which is key for the safety of the bullet train.
MEA spokesperson on Friday rejected the allegation regarding the signal systems.
"The signalling equipment has been ordered accordingly and is in line with international specifications," the MEA spokesperson said.
"No Japanese offer was received in this context. The project execution is in line with the common goal of starting the high-speed train project at the earliest, Jaiswal added.
India on Friday rejected allegations by a former Japanese minister that its officials were to blame for the delay in the Bullet Train project, built on the lines of Japan's Shinkansen high-speed railway. Former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara accused the Indian side of "sheer recklessness", alleging that officials repeatedly failed to honour commitments and pursued "self-interest" during negotiations on the project.
In a post on X on July 15, Makihara alleged a lack of progress in India's flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR), and said the delay was "entirely on the Indian side".
Makihara's comments were in response to an opinion piece on a Tokyo-based business news portal by Isao Tsujimura, a senior Japanese railway engineer and Delhi-based metro vehicle consultant, on July 15. Tsujimura argued that India's Bullet Train project had significantly diverged from the Shinkansen model.
The Indian government on Friday rejected allegations regarding the MAHSR 508-kilometre corridor that will connect Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex with Ahmedabad through 12 stations across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
"We have seen the post you are referring to. It is an individual opinion, and at considerable variance with facts," Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said.
"India-Japan discussions on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail are, in fact, progressing well. Japan will provide the E20 train series, but only in the early 2030s. The train in question is under development," said Jaiswal.
CONSTRUCTION WORK HAS RAPIDLY PROGRESSED, SAYS JAISWAL
Despite the criticism from the former Japanese minister, the project has recently crossed several construction milestones. "The construction work of the project has rapidly progressed, and the first section will be opened in 2027 itself," Jaiswal said on Friday.
Earlier on July 15, Indian authorities had announced that the first operational section of the bullet train, which would likely be between Gujarat's Surat and Bilimora.
Construction on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor has gathered pace in recent months, with work progressing rapidly on viaducts, tunnels and stations after years of delays caused largely by land acquisition hurdles and political changes in Maharashtra.
India is also laying the groundwork for manufacturing future high-speed trainsets domestically through Indian Railways' Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and BEML Limited, while continuing to receive Japanese technological support for the initial fleet.
The progress has further reinforced India's broader ambitions of developing a nationwide high-speed rail network, with proposed corridors connecting cities such as Delhi, Varanasi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.
Even as the project gathers momentum and the Indian government maintains that cooperation with Japan remains on track, the remarks by Japan's former minister have drawn attention to possible differences over the execution of the flagship India-Japan infrastructure project. The comments come at a time when construction is advancing at its fastest pace since the project was launched, even as New Delhi has rejected suggestions of any strain in its engagement with Tokyo.
INDIA REJECTS CLAIMS OF JAPANESE SIGNALLING EQUIPMENT
Japan's former minister, Makihara, in his post on X, claimed that there were no results from the Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to New Delhi in July.
Makihara further alleged that India "excluded Japan from the signal system", which is key for the safety of the bullet train.
MEA spokesperson on Friday rejected the allegation regarding the signal systems.
"The signalling equipment has been ordered accordingly and is in line with international specifications," the MEA spokesperson said.
"No Japanese offer was received in this context. The project execution is in line with the common goal of starting the high-speed train project at the earliest, Jaiswal added.
