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  Team in Tokyo for bullet train plan

Team in Tokyo for bullet train plan

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : May 16, 2016, 9:55 am IST
Updated : May 16, 2016, 9:55 am IST

In a bid to facilitate the commencement of work on India’s dream bullet train (high-speed rail corridor) project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai from 2017, a high-level joint committee, consisting of Nit

In a bid to facilitate the commencement of work on India’s dream bullet train (high-speed rail corridor) project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai from 2017, a high-level joint committee, consisting of Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar, chairman railway board A.K. Mittal would hold talks with its Japanese counterparts on Monday in Tokyo. The joint committee was constituted by the PMO for an inter-ministerial co-ordination and is mandated to be a single point decision-making body for the high-speed rail corridor project. “During the meeting, the joint committee will finalise the schedule of project, terms related to the appointment of general consultant and procurement conditions,” said a senior Railway Board official.

Under the instructions of the PMO, said the official, the joint committee is seeking to impress upon its Japanese counterparts to allow a larger participation of Indian companies in building the high speed rail corridor, which is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The joint committee has been briefed about the challenges faced in the execution of the western dedicated freight corridor, which is also funded by the JICA, in which the Railways faced single vendor situations. As the terms and conditions of the JICA funding mandated, the lead construction firm has to be from Japan, the DFC in the early stages struggled to find multiple Japanese firms taking part in the tender process.

“Since the loan negotiation and finalisation of loan agreement will take some time, the government is keen on timely implementation of project. So, the committee will seek a proper schedule of project implementation,” added the official.

The appointment of general consultant before the finalisation of loan agreement will enable start of preparatory activities like designing and preparation of tender documents,” added the official. The Japanese side during talks will be led by Hiroto Izumi, who is special adviser to the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.

As part of the exercise a major industry interaction between Indian and Japanese companies will be held May 17 in which 100 Japanese companies and 21 Indian companies will take part, said the official.

Meanwhile, the Railways is laying a 20 km-long test track, equipped with a state-of-the-art laboratory, near Raipur for trial of high-speed and regular trains. The test track will also be used for trial of high axle load wagons. The 20 km test track, including a 5 km loop line, will cost cost about Rs 100 crore.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi