As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of India's first bullet train, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday called it a a symbol of brotherhood between people of India and Japan.
Goyal said that this partnership would prove to be beneficial for India and would also contribute to the country's ''Make in India'' Mission.
''People will get employment opportunities with this project and it will bring important changes in the country. This bullet train will be a symbol of brotherhood between people of India and Japan,'' Goyal said.
Addressing the gathering for the first time after taking over as the Railway Minister, Goyal said that the bullet train project would boost the economies all along its route.
"Many people criticised the introduction of the Rajdhani Express, but now it is the train everyone wants to travel by.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that projects like bullet train would fulfil the vision of the Prime Minister's 'New India'''.
''We are not only laying the foundation of the bullet train, but are laying the foundation of the Prime Minister's New India Vision,'' he said.
''The employment generated with the project will boost the GDP,'' he added.
The bullet train, which has a capacity to accommodate 750 people, is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities from seven to three hours.
On the Ahmedabad-Mumbai route, total 12 stations have been proposed that include Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.
The distance of 508 km will be covered in two hours and seven minutes by the bullet train if it stops at four stations namely Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Mumbai.
According to the railway ministry officials, the operating speed of the bullet train will be 320 kilometers per hour and the maximum speed will be 350 kilometers per hour.
With this, India has become the first to import the iconic 'Shinkansen' bullet-train technology after Taiwan. The Japanese Government has also agreed to fund the project at minimal interest rates.
