India on Friday dismissed allegations by former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara that Indian officials were responsible for delays in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.
Makihara had claimed that Indian officials failed to honour commitments, pursued self-interest during negotiations, and were solely responsible for the project's slow progress. His remarks came in response to an opinion piece by Japanese railway engineer Isao Tsujimura, who argued that the project had diverged from the original Shinkansen model.
INDIA REJECTS ALLEGATIONS
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Makihara's comments reflected a personal opinion and did not match the facts.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India-Japan discussions on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project were progressing well and confirmed that Japan would supply the E20 train series in the early 2030s, as it is still under development.
PROJECT MAKING STEADY PROGRESS
Jaiswal said construction had accelerated significantly, with the first section of the corridor expected to open in 2027.
Work on viaducts, tunnels and stations has gained pace after earlier delays caused by land acquisition and political changes. India is also preparing to manufacture future high-speed trainsets through the Integral Coach Factory and BEML, while continuing to receive Japanese technological support.
The project is expected to serve as the foundation for future high-speed rail corridors connecting cities including Delhi, Varanasi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.
SIGNALLING CLAIMS DENIED
Makihara also alleged that India had excluded Japan from the signalling system for the Bullet Train.
Rejecting the claim, the MEA said the signalling equipment had been procured in line with international standards and that no Japanese proposal had been received for that component. The ministry added that both countries remain committed to completing the project at the earliest.
