The Narendra Modi government’s ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project may turn out to be a loss-making proposition and burden Maharashtra’s already dwindling finances, the latest information obtained by an activist under the Right to Information (RTI) request has revealed.

As per the RTI response, a State Transport Department report has highlighted several objections raised by various departments over the economic viability of the Shinkansen train, which could result in losses in the form of wasted Floor Space Index (FSI) and delayed loan repayment in the absence of proper frameworks.

In its assessment, the State Urban Development Department (UDD) said, some part of the FSI at the station proposed at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai could “remain unutilised because of the height restrictions, leading to revenue losses.”

“Hence, a conscious decision must be taken in this regard even as the Railways have said there is no impediment to the construction viability of the financial centre. However, the clauses in this regard must be specifically incorporated so that no objections are raised by the Railways later on,” a note from the UDD reads. Both Planning and Finance departments have called for a thorough study of bullet train economics in other countries before a decision is taken on its feasibility in India. They also said the Centre must clarify the formula for sharing the loan burden.