Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train To Create Economic Zone Along Route: Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Draws Parallel With Japan

Similar to Japan, the design for India's inaugural bullet train route, which is presently being built, aims to establish a vast and integrated economic region across the states it traverses, The New Indian Express reported.

The initiation of bullet train services between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is set to establish economic zones. These zones are anticipated to bring about economic advantages via industrialisation.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently said that the biggest advantage of the bullet train is that it brings together five to six cities to form a single economic zone.

“The bullet train project is not only a means of transportation, but it is a project for the growth of the entire region,” TNIE quoted him as saying as Vaishnav compared the Mumbai-Ahmedabad project to Japan’s first bullet train project between Osaka and Tokyo, which created an important hub.

The inaugural high-speed rail corridor in India, set to house bullet trains, is expected to economically benefit over 12 cities it passes through, as well as their smaller adjacent towns, by promoting increased business and industrial operations.

Vaishnaw added, “As a result of Japan’s first bullet train, introduced between Osaka and Tokyo, all the six cities located along the route between these stations emerged as major hubs. Similarly, areas like Surat, Nadia, Bilimora, Vapi, Thane, Ahmedabad, and others along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train route will witness rapid growth.”

Providing an update on the progress of the project, the minister said 360 km of work is now at the viaduct level. “The work at the Anand bullet train station is progressing well, and it is being modernised to accommodate trains running at speeds of up to 350 km/h,” he added.

A high-ranking railway authority stated that the bullet train initiative is cautiously anticipated to amplify commercial activities more than fivefold across the regions between the two states, with decreased travel durations giving precedence to business operations.

The anticipation is also high that the inaugural bullet train project will stimulate the establishment of economic zones around key stations on its path, drawing significant private sector investment in infrastructure.

“The high-speed rail development will stimulate construction, engineering, and manufacturing sectors, resulting in job creation and improved transportation networks. With travel time reduced from seven to eight hours to just two to three hours, day trips or business travel will become more viable,” the senior railway official was quoted as saying.

“The most significant economic impact will be felt through job creation, with an estimated 1 to 2 lakh jobs generated in construction for both skilled and unskilled labour, in addition to specialised technical roles,” the official added as per TNIE.