Surat, India (Urban Transport News): Ambassador of Japan to India, Hiroshi F. Suzuki visited casting yards of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor in Surat and Navsari districts with officials of National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL). He was apprised of all the work being done for making Bullet Train a reality in India.
"Today I observed the progress of the construction works being undertaken for HSR in Surat. The India-Japan flagship project is now making progress in full swing. The work for high-speed rail is progressing. We are deeply impressed with how people are working so hard to advance this project. We look forward to continuing to work as a team on this project. Japan & India enjoys close relations," said Hiroshi Suzuki.
"There are indigenous parts that are being used in the construction of rail project. Our workers are working for 24 hrs. We have got support from the Maharashtra govt, and land acquisition has been done there," commented Rajendra Prasad, Managing Director, NHSRCL.
Work on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has gained momentum, with the Railway ministry claiming that more than 98 per cent of the land has been acquired for the project in Maharashtra.
Piers have been erected for a distance of more than 118 kilometres, girders are being launched and the work on the construction of bullet train stations has also started, the railway ministry said.
The railway ministry claimed that while 98.22 per cent land has been acquired in Maharashtra, in Gujarat, 98.87 per cent land has been acquired and in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, 100 per cent of the land has been acquired for the project.
The physical progress till November 23 was 24.1 per cent, the ministry said, adding that while almost 30 per cent of the work has been completed in Gujarat, in Maharashtra, around 13 per cent has so far been achieved.
According to the NHSRCL officials, almost all the civil work have been allotted in Gujarat, along with construction of piers (pillars) and all small and big bridges across rivers. The work of placing girders on the piers has also started.
"The contract for the construction of a bullet train station at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and the one for the construction of an underground tunnel have also been allotted. Pier and girder works will soon be visible in Maharashtra like in Gujarat," said officials.
The 508 kilometres Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor will connect Mumbai to Ahmedabad with 12 stations.