Latest


Bullet train project will be demonetisation-like move: PC

  •   Sat, Sep 30 2017 03:57:39 PM

New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI): Congress leader P Chidambaram today criticised the bullet train project, saying it will be a demonetisation-like move "which will kill everything else", and suggested that the money should instead be spent on improving rail safety.

The former finance minister's comments come a day after a stampede on a footbridge connecting Mumbai's suburban railway stations of Parel and Elphinstone claimed 22 lives.

The bullet train project, linking Mumbai and Ahmedabad, is not for ordinary people but an "ego trip for the high and mighty", he alleged.

Chidambaram also suggested that Railway Minister Piyush Goyal should instead use the Rs one lakh crore meant for the project for ensuring railway safety in the country.

"Bullet train will be like demonetisation. It will kill everything else including safety.

"Railway Minister may take pledge on day after. Rs one lakh crore for rail safety, track upgrading, signalling & not for bullet train," he said on Twitter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe had on September 14 laid the foundation stone for India's first bullet train between the two cities.

The Rs 1.10 lakh-crore project is expected to be completed by 2022. The train would cover a distance of over 500 km in around two hours.
  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Sun, Oct 01 2017

    Any non viable projects why we need when so many other need based commitments are pending

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, Karkala

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    India could have saved as much as $3.2 billion on construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train system if it had invited bids instead of awarding the project to Japan on a nomination basis. At least, that is what emerges from a cost comparison with similar high-speed rail (HSR) projects built in other countries in recent years.
    The cost of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR project is estimated at $17 billion (Rs 1.1 lakh crore). Based on that, the construction cost of project rail infrastructure works out to $27.44 million/ km.
    In comparison, the average cost of constructing infrastructure for 350 km per hour bullet trains in China is $17-21 million/km. Even if we take the highest figure of $21 million per km in China for comparison, the cost estimate of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR project is still at least $3.2 billion higher, though comparable to similar infrastructure built in Europe.
    India’s death toll of 193 from train derailments in 2016-17 was the highest in a decade. But it looks like the figure could be surpassed this year.
    As per World Bank estimates, India’s per capita healthcare expenditure is $60, quite low compared to other BRICS countries like China ($ 300) and Brazil ($1000). In GDP terms, public expenditure on health is estimated at 1.2% of GDP.
    India’s spending on education has fallen to 3.71% of GDP in 2017-18 budget from 4.4% in 1999, hurting the prospects of improvement in quality of education for children.
    In comparison, China HSR with a speed of 350 km/hour has a typical infrastructure unit cost of about $17-$21 million/ km, with a high ratio of viaducts and tunnels, said the World Bank report.
    The cost of HSR construction in Europe, having design speed of 300 km/ hour or above, is estimated at $25-39 million/km. HSR construction cost is estimated to be as high as $56 m/km in California.
    Unmindful of the fact that travel by the bullet train would be a luxury for the bulk of the country’s population struggling for the basic necessities of life.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    We should have had bullet trains by now. ......

    thanks to the governments since independence..... we don't have.... reason .... we are poor nation...... reason number 2..... our wealth was plundered by British.....

    Let me point out that in the year 1945.... japan and Germany were completely destroyed. yet they became prosperous. what did India do in the same time????

    DisAgree [7] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 01 2017

    Even if our country goes bankrupt... it does not matter..... i want bullet train.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    I wonder why Ahmadabad was chosen as Pilot Project ...

    DisAgree Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, USA

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    Because it is the Feku's Fake Fakistan!!!!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • MILAN, LUCERNE

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    BLIND BHAKTS ARE NOW CONVERTING TO CONGRESS. THEY ARE FED UP OF ACHE DIN

    WHAT EVER MODI TOUCHES IT BECOMES CHARCOAL

    DisAgree [4] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Swamy, Mangalore

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    Modi and Amit Shah are building castles in the air, thinking this name 'Bullet Train' will arouse people emotionally and vote BJP. Just fighting to win elections by hook or crook without anything in you to deliver will puncture your air castles. Already cracks are appearing Loud and Clear.

    DisAgree Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Aubb, Kuwait

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    Raj Thackeray gave a befitting rebuke to Modi as well.

    Quote from DW today:

    Mumbai, Sep 30 (IANS): In the aftermath of the stampede which killed 22 commuters on Friday, MNS President Raj Thackeray on Saturday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "liar" and warned that he would not allow the Bullet Train project till all suburban commuters' issues are resolved.

    "I shall not allow even a brick for the Bullet Train project to be laid. First resolve all the basic problems of Mumbai commuters. If Modi wants, let him construct it in Gujarat. If they use force, we shall also retaliate," an agitated Thackeray thundered.

    Attacking the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he called Modi a "liar" who changed all his statements before and after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

    "We have never seen a PM who is such a big liar. He made big promises and then dismissed them as 'election jumlas'. How much can a person lie in this fashion?" asked Thackeray.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    Suddenly Raj became “Ladla” for you people??? This is called irony of Indian Politics and people of certain followers!!! Of course Raj knows that proposed “Bullet Train” will not help Maharashtrian people rather than enjoyed by Gujjus because who is doing good business in Mumbai??? Maharashtrians are not doing any business even in Maharashtra except few!!! This “Bullet Train” will help mostly Gujjus for doing fast business in Mumbai and take the money back to Gujarat.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robert Pais, Mangalore

    Sun, Oct 01 2017

    I fail to understand logic in your argument. Therefore I respectfully disagree with your Sir.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    Better you try to protect your own son from CBI Clutches....rather than talking about economy.... We and by now everybody knows how crookedly you handled the economy during UPA regime!!! By giving lecture about the Saffron Hindu-Terror you are already exposed for your cupid mind because in country like India only truth will prevail at the end and rest all bite the dust

    DisAgree [26] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • alfria, Mumbai

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    PC Chidambaram no where in his statement has asked you or any blind bhakts for help or for any protection from CBI, Chidambram knows how to protect his son.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • sanath, Udupi

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    In India from last 70 years we are seeing railway improvement, railway safety everything and every year special budget for railway but railway is same, no changes. see the metro, it is usefull now like metro bullet train also get usefull for everyone in future. But anti indians still wants old india.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abhijit, M'lore

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    But congress too promised to connect all the cities by bullet trains during 2014 LS elections. Now this hypocrisy.

    DisAgree [18] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    Bullet train is a very good project..
    Next Mangalore-Mumbai should go for bullet train....
    Please replace the existing konkan rail and track...

    DisAgree [24] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Sat, Sep 30 2017

    India’s dreaming of bullet trains, but Mumbai’s local trains can’t deal with one big shower... Surgical strikes and demonetization was big blunder!!

    DisAgree [6] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Bullet train project will be demonetisation-like move: PC



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like