Bullet Train Project: Modi Raps Slow Progress In Maharashtra, Says Gujarat On Target
Despite the Maharashtra government dragging its feet on the ambitious bullet train project, Indian Railways would go ahead with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor and complete the Gujarat portion on time.
With the project moving at a snail’s pace in Maharashtra, the Centre has made it clear that the execution of the first high-speed train in the country would be on course and if possible it would be operational on the Gujarat side.
Taking note of the slow progress in many important national projects due to the lack of cooperation from the concerned state governments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed displeasure in a high-level review meeting and indicated that the infrastructure projects crucial for the development would not be stopped.
The bullet train project execution is much behind the schedule as the basic work of land acquisition is not complete yet. While a majority of land to be acquired in Gujarat for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train corridor is already done, only 22 per cent of the required land has been acquired in Maharashtra.
Land acquisition for the big-ticket project has faced hurdles because of resistance from farmers and tribals, and lack of keenness on the state government’s part.
