News Brief
Shinkansen bullet trains at Tokyo train station (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
In a boost to Make-in-India initiative, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited has joined hands with IRCON International Limited for design, supply and construction of 237 km of track between Vadodara and Vapi in Gujarat and track related works for Double Line High Speed Railway for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor.
The ballastless slab track system as used in Japanese high speed rail (HSR) Shinkansen will be used on India’s first HSR project.
Japan Railway Track Consultant (JRTC) has provided the detailed design and drawing of major HSR track components like RC Track bed, Track slab arrangement and continuous welded rail (CWR) forces etc. for the contract.
The contract will boost the Make-in-India initiative as an Indian company IRCON has been awarded the contract. The agreement signing ceremony was attended by NHSRCL Managing Director Satish Agnihotri along with other directors, Economic and Development Minister, Embassy of Japan in India, Miyamoto Shingo, and JICA Chief Representative Saito Mitsunori.
IRCON Managing Director Yogesh Kumar Mishra along with other senior officers from NHSRCL, IRCON, JICA and JRTC were present.
Shingo called the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High speed rail project as the biggest and most brightly shining example of cooperation between India and Japan. “Under this contract, Indian contractors will receive transfer of Japanese Shinkansen technology which will give a big boost to the Make in India initiative.” he further added.
Mitsunori said, “The track works are a crucial part of railway safety and comfortable ride in Shinkansen technology. Track work contract will offer a unique opportunity for Indian companies to work with Japanese agencies who have expertise in Shinkansen technology.”
NHSRCL Project Director Rajendra Prasad said, “The Shinkansen technology has unpanelled record of safety and track plays a very important role in the safety of train running. It is an excellent example of transfer of technology, as Japanese experts will come to India to provide training to Indian supervisors and workers involved in Track work”.