Visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and PM Narendra Modi jointly launched the work on India's first bullet train at Gujarat's Ahmedabad this morning. Scheduled to be a 508 km high-speed rail link between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, this project is seen as the PM's centrepiece to demonstrate India's capacity in building high-tech projects.
The project also signals the growing closeness between Japan and India, amid the threats posed by China. The bullet train is expected to begin operating in 2022. However, reports suggest that the PM wants it to begin a year ahead.
Here are a few things that you need to know about the first major initiative by the Indian government in making India superfast:
Prime Ministers @AbeShinzo and @narendramodi at Mahatma Mandir before their talks earlier today. pic.twitter.com/LikZaeMLuz
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 14, 2017The India Cultural Road Show gave PM @AbeShinzo glimpses of the rich and diverse Indian culture that we are all extremely proud of. pic.twitter.com/IN7Z34zZXQ
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2017Towards next gen infrastructure...foundation stone for India's first high speed rail laid by PMs @AbeShinzo and @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/YbQXSakJaZ
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 14, 2017I congratulate PM @narendramodi & Japanese PM @AbeShinzo for laying the foundation stone of path breaking Bullet Train project in Ahmedabad. pic.twitter.com/JcSiGWbND1
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 14, 2017Shri @PiyushGoyal's event schedule for today. You can view live webcast of this event on https://t.co/mZpoOBaM6f #BulletTrain pic.twitter.com/NpSgKrUE7Q
— Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) September 14, 2017
यह बुलेट ट्रेन जापान और भारत के बीच भाईचारे का प्रतीक बनने जा रही है : @PiyushGoyal #BulletTrain4Growth
— Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) September 14, 2017The Bullet Train project will be a stimulus for India's manufacturing & construction sector, creating new job opportunities: @PiyushGoyal
— Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) September 14, 2017