Japan is a pioneer in high-speed rail networks, and its Shinkansen bullet train is among the fastest in the world
The state is set to host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the annual Indo-Japan meet on September 14 at Mahatma Mandir in the capital, Gandhinagar. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) expected to be signed at the meet, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will bring in development in sectors from cars to cargo and from trains to aerospace, and draw huge investments, to the tune of Rs 5 lakh crore, from as many as 15 Japanese firms as well as the government.
Chief secretary Dr JN Singh, while talking to DNA, said, “There are many sectors in which there will be cooperation between India and Japan. Besides the bullet train project, ties will be formulated in the sectors of aerospace, automobiles manufacturing, and maritime.”
The bullet train will be India’s first, between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, and will cut travel time between the two cities from 7–8 hours to a little over two hours. Japan is a pioneer in high-speed rail networks, and its Shinkansen bullet train is among the fastest in the world.
“A training and skill upgradation centre will be developed in Vadodara as a part of the High Speed Rail Training Institute. The institute, to become functional by 2020, will get equipment such as a simulator and other facilities that exist in Japan. This will train 4,000 staffers for bullet train and 300 railway officials. This will also help the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor,” Singh said.
Japan to fund Rail Corporation
The High Speed Rail Corporation, which will invest Rs 88,000 crore in the national rail network, will receive 80 per cent of the funds from the Japanese government at the interest of 0.1 per cent and a repayment period of 50 years. The first 15 years would be grace period for repayment.
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 "Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with Prime Minister Narendra Modi")
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