Bullet Train: Modi, Abe describe day as 'historic'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his visiting Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe jointly laid the foundation of the country's first bullet train project, describing the day as historic and a symbol of deepening relationship between the two countries.
By : migrator
Update: 2017-09-14 08:52 GMT
Ahmedabad
The train that will run at the speed of 350 km/hour, initially between 508 km stretch between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is set to revolutionise and transform the railways and integrate it to the updated global technology.
Mr Abe, on this occasion, expressed his country's strong commitment for extending all cooperation in India's ambitious 'Make in India' project, and Mr Modi hailed Japan as a great friend who has come forward to help India in taking its first step towards 'New India'.
Mr Modi said the bullet train will give the country "Tez gati, tez pragati, tez technology aur tez parinam (fast speed, fast progress, fast technology and fast results).
He thanked the 'unique' friend Japan for giving Rs 88,000-crore for the first bullet train just at 0.1 per cent interest.
Mr Abe, who described Mr Modi as a visionary world leader, said they had taken the decision on the bullet train when Mr Modi had visited his country.
Returning the tribute, Mr Modi said that for a good friend time and boundaries were no road blocks, and japan had proved that.
Thanking Japan on being a partner in the journey of the country towards the future, Mr Modi said, "This is New India, whose dreams, flight and willpower was boundless."
Both the Prime Ministers said they hoped they would travel together in the bullet train when the project was completed in 2022.
He said Mr Abe had taken special interest in the bullet train project for India.
Mr Modi said the start of the bullet trains in the country will have a transforming effect not only on economy but also impact social development.
He underlined that with the completion of the project, the entire area between Mumbai and Ahmadabad will come under a single economic zone, increasing connectivity between places, encouraging trade, exchange of manpower and goods.
Taking a dig at critics of the bullet train, the Prime Minister said earlier they were not tired of asking when the project will begin, and now that it had been started, they were saying why it had come.
The Prime Minister underlined that economic growth in future would take place only in the high speed corridors.
He said he did not agree with the view that new technology was for the benefit of the rich as experience had shown that technology could reduce poverty if used properly.
Mr Modi said his main objective was to take the benefit of new technology to the common man.
"The bullet train will bring both jobs and convenience, and it was a project which was human-friendly and eco-friendly," Mr Modi said.
The Prime Minister said his vision was for an integrated transport system as that was a must to drive economic growth.
The Prime Minister underlined the need of adopting new technologies, saying that they were changing fast and time cannot wait.
The bullet train will aid India in boosting its productivity, and India was focusing on high productivity and high-speed connectivity, he said.
Earlier, Mr Abe in his remarks said that he "hoped to enjoy the beauty of India through the windows of the bullet train when I come to India in a few years."
He also assured of the full safety of the bullet train and said the related technology would be transferred to India.
Mr Abe on this occasion recalled how Japan, which had been devastated by the World War II, had started its economic reconstruction in 1964, and how the Shinkansen technology of bullet train helped in the process.
He said India-Japan relationship was full of possibilities, and was important for the Indo-Pacific region. The Japanese Prime Minister described India-Japan partnership as "special, strategic and global."
Earlier, the two Prime Ministers also laid the foundation of the high speed training institute at Vadodara through remote control.
Mr Abe arrived on a two-day visit, which is expected to add a new chapter in the vibrant relationship between the two countries.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android