India’s multi-crore Bullet Train project is delayed following non –availability of trains from Japan, and late tendering. This has been established in multiple documents, including a progress report of the project and a special presentation, all of which have been accessed and reviewed by businessline.
The bullet train project has already missed two deadlines – 2022 and 2024.
According to a Master Implementation Plan developed by National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) in Aug 2021 and submitted to the Japanese side, the completion period for the bullet train project was six years. What this means is that some sections of the project, especially in Gujarat, is to be up and running by August 2027.
As things stand now, New Bullet Train models are expected to be delivered around 2033.
There are multiple reasons for the delay, including “delay in invitation of tenders for systems (E-1) and rolling stock(R-1) packages because of delay from the Japanese side”. Also, there are delays in Maharashtra due to late land acquisition. Mobilisation of equipment was delayed due to restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
An internal progress report states: construction progress for the high speed rail corridor stands at 49.09 per cent, against a projected 62.2 per cent.
“The overall physical progress achieved was 49.09 per cent against a target of 62.2 per cent (short fall of 13.11 per cent) till January 2025,” an NHSRCL official mentioned, referring to their monthly progress report of January 2025.
Gujarat-vs-Maharashtra
It mentioned that there were delays in tendering in Maharashtra “Due to late land acquisition, tendering in Maharashtra section was delayed.”
The report also says: “mobilisation of major equipment delayed due to port congestion on account of Covid restrictions.”
Physical progress in Gujarat is at 58.82 per cent, substantially higher than Maharashatra, which is at 29.12 per cent.
The NHSRCL did not respond to queries by businessline, till the time of going to press. Railways did not respond to questions in this regard. A detailed questionnaire mailed to Minister of Railways (MR) office did not elicit any response.
In terms of physical progress, around 16.25 per cent of the total work was expected to be completed this fiscal, divided into 4-odd per cent across each of the four quarters. Against this, work completion was 7.38 per cent.
Slowdown has been particularly pronounced in Q2 and Q3, the report notes.
Focus on Gujarat Polls
Sources said India is trying to bring in the updated Shinkanshen E-10 design (called as Alfa X) – currently under development as per an internal presentation made before senior Railway Board officials some months back.
A timeline of 2024 – 2027 has been pegged for carrying out “development of E-10 Shinkanshen and B-1 Indian Bullet 280 kmph trains”.
This can be interpreted as India trying to finalise its own version of a high speed or semi-high speed train; while it plans to bring in the upgraded version of its Japanese counterpart.
“The internal suggestion is to run India-made trains for a bridge period on Gujarat zone, and then make a switchover to Japanese bullet trains,” a person in the know said.
In a Joint Committee Meeting held in January 2023, the issue of Master Implementation Plan was discussed and the Japanese side indicated that phased commissioning in Gujarat (Vapi-Sabarmati section) in August 2027, as a common target between Japan and India “could be considered” if Indian side agreed for setting “feasible milestones in bidding document”.
In another Joint Meeting, held in September 2023, the Indian side requested that “joint endeavor should be directed towards accomplishing the objective of Commissioning the Gujarat portion by August 2027”.
Assembly elections in Gujarat are due in end-2027.
