To keep PM's words, small section of bullet train to be operational by 2022

Vadodara: If all goes as per plan, the country would see its first bullet train running in 2022 from Surat to Billimora in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Notably, the arrangement has been necessitated to keep the words of PM Modi who had announced about the operation of bullet train from August 15, 2022 as the country will be celebrating 75th years of its Independence.

The 50-km stretch between Surat and Billimora would be covered in 15 minutes. According to a senior official of the National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL), the target to commission the 508-km corridor of bullet train between Mumbai to Ahmedabad is 2023.

The official further said that of the selection of the stretch has been finalised due to its straight alignment.

"Given the straight section, the construction on this particular section can be done smoothly and conveniently. So, we have selected this particular section to showcase the operation of bullet train," the official said.

In reply to a question that railways in Japan are famous for its punctually and even a railway company apologised after one of its trains departed 20 seconds earlier, the official said, "Similar trends would be followed in India too if bullet train gets delayed and the reason of delay would be written on tickets that can be presented by the commuters to their offices as a proof."

The official said that a separate portal and windows would be opened for ticket booking for bullet train apart from the IRCTC portal.

On the completion of training institute in Vadodara, the official, who was trained in Japan, said, "From February onwards, those working in the bullet train project will start getting training in India from the Japanese to learn the basics of bullet train operation."

Construction of the High-Speed Training Institute, an integral part of the bullet train project, is in full swing in Vadodara. The Rs 600 cr project of building the training institute is crucial as regular training of manpower in the technical efficiency of the Shinkansen is essential to run the system smoothly.

"By 2023, around 3500 manpower will be ready with adequate skills so that the system can roll out," the official said, adding that in February 2019, two floors of the five-storey hostel building will be ready.

The five-hectare campus in the heart of Vadodara, will be commissioned by 2020.