Less than 20% of bullet train components will be Japanese: MoS Railways

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Less than 20 percent of the components of the Bullet train project would be Japanese, the Railways informed Parliament on Friday.

On being asked if it was true that Japanese companies would meet at least 70 percent of core components for India's first Bullet train and its track, Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain said that it was not.

"Japanese component for the project is estimated to be about 18.6 percent of the total project cost. Make in India is an integral part of the project," he said without elaborating on the components.

According to the ministry, as per the current estimate, procurement from Japan will be about 18 percent of the project cost.

Gohain said a joint Indian and Japanese task force on 'Make in India' and Transfer of Technology (ToT) under the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has been constituted.

He said that this was constituted to provide a platform for "Indian and Japanese companies to come together and facilitate tie-ups by way of formation of joint venture and transfer of technology."

"The task force and the four subgroups constituted for civil works, track, rolling stock and electrical and system areas have held several meetings in this regard," the minister said.

The Bullet train project is targeted for completion by the year 2022-23.

The feasibility report had assessed a ridership of 35,800 passengers per day in the year 2023 which goes up to 1,85,800 per day by the year 2053.