The National High Speed Rail Corporation, the implementing authority, said on Sunday that it was open to the idea of letting more travellers beyond the train's seating capacity
The big-ticket bullet train project could have a flavour of Mumbai's local trains – standing users – if the high-speed corridor sees heavy demand. The new-age transit system will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad and is expected to be operational by 2022.
The National High Speed Rail Corporation, the implementing authority, said on Sunday that it was open to the idea of letting more travellers beyond the train's seating capacity. "If the people are ready then we will allow standees inside the bullet train," said Achal Khare, managing director of NHSRCL.
This means passengers wishing to cut travel time on the 508-km route will be able to hop on the 10-car train for short journeys without worrying much about having a confirmed ticket. The new-age services will cover the entire stretch between 1 hour 55 minutes and two-and-half hours and will have 12 stations, including BKC, Surat Vadodara, and Sabarmati.
"We will have to run trials for at least 10,000 km before putting it on for public use and so the first train has to come by 2021," said Khare. The NHSRCL may also go for monthly passes if there is a demand for it.
Equipped with a state-of-the art technology from Japan, officials say, the ride on the bullet train will be a lot smoother even if for those standing. It won't wobble sideways, like the local trains do, despite moving at over 300 km per hour, said a senior NHSRCL official.
The 10-car train will have a capacity of 750 passengers and can accommodate as many standees. By 2033, authorities plan to add six cars to increase the seats to 1250. The fares will, however, be same for all on board. The proposed fare from BKC to Thane fare is Rs 250, it's Rs 500 for BKC-Virar, and Rs 750 on BKC-Boisar.
Of the 10 cars, there will be one business class and the rest will be general compartments. On the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, they expect 40000 passengers every day to use this bullet train. Off these, they expect 14000 people using their private vehicles and taxis to shift to the bullet train, 6500 passengers of airlines and rest from other long distance trains.
The work on first rail station for the bullet train will begin from November at BKC. The NHSRCL has begun the process of land acquisition. There are 108 villages where land will be acquired from nearly 10,000 people. Khare said, "We plan to acquire entire 1415 hectares of land by December 18. We are looking at compensation to the tune of Rs 10000 crore."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Bullet train")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}