Private entities to be involved for bullet train projects

21 Sep 2020 Editorial Team

Image courtesy: Business Today

The Indian Railways is considering having private players for constructing and operating its planned seven new bullet train projects.

The new corridors will connect Delhi-Varanasi (865 km), Delhi-Ahmedabad (886 km), Delhi-Amritsar (459 km), Chennai-Mysore (435 km), Mumbai-Hyderabad (711 km) Mumbai-Nagpur (753 km) and Varanasi-Howrah (760 km).

The government has asked National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) for detailed project reports (DRPs) of the seven new corridors. The capital costs will be decided once the DPRs are ready as many factors need to be taken into consideration. The Centre is planning to invest Rs 10 trillion into these bullet train projects. These projects will span over a distance of 4,869 km with per km cost of Rs 2.13 billion.

63 per cent of the land required for the new project – which includes 22 per cent in Maharashtra, 80 per cent in Dadar and Nagar Haveli and 77 per cent in Gujarat has already been acquired. But, land acquisition issues in places like Navsari in Gujarat and Palghar in Maharashtra are yet to be figured out

These routes will be in addition to the already planned Mumbai – Ahmedabad corridor. It is important to note that the 508 km long Mumbai Ahmedabad speed rail corridor will miss its deadline of December 2023 because of the pandemic. Reportedly NHSRCL has stated that this project in itself will be creating more than 90,000 direct and indirect jobs in various categories as the construction of the railway lines require more than 51,000 technicians, skilled and unskilled workers.

The construction works for the high-speed railway corridor project will include 12 stations, a 460-km long viaduct, a 7-km undersea tunnel, 26-km-long tunnels and 27 steel bridges. 64 per cent of land required for the construction of the project has been acquired, most of which is from Gujarat and some from Maharashtra.

It is also worthy to note that this involvement of private players comes with a backdrop of railways trying to attract private players for its Rs 1-trillion station redevelopment and Rs 300 billion private train project. The last date of application for private investors is October 7.

Image courtesy: Business TodayThe Indian Railways is considering having private players for constructing and operating its planned seven new bullet train projects.The new corridors will connect Delhi-Varanasi (865 km), Delhi-Ahmedabad (886 km), Delhi-Amritsar (459 km), Chennai-Mysore (435 km), Mumbai-Hyderabad (711 km) Mumbai-Nagpur (753 km) and Varanasi-Howrah (760 km). The government has asked National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) for detailed project reports (DRPs) of the seven new corridors. The capital costs will be decided once the DPRs are ready as many factors need to be taken into consideration. The Centre is planning to invest Rs 10 trillion into these bullet train projects. These projects will span over a distance of 4,869 km with per km cost of Rs 2.13 billion.63 per cent of the land required for the new project – which includes 22 per cent in Maharashtra, 80 per cent in Dadar and Nagar Haveli and 77 per cent in Gujarat has already been acquired. But, land acquisition issues in places like Navsari in Gujarat and Palghar in Maharashtra are yet to be figured out These routes will be in addition to the already planned Mumbai – Ahmedabad corridor. It is important to note that the 508 km long Mumbai Ahmedabad speed rail corridor will miss its deadline of December 2023 because of the pandemic. Reportedly NHSRCL has stated that this project in itself will be creating more than 90,000 direct and indirect jobs in various categories as the construction of the railway lines require more than 51,000 technicians, skilled and unskilled workers.The construction works for the high-speed railway corridor project will include 12 stations, a 460-km long viaduct, a 7-km undersea tunnel, 26-km-long tunnels and 27 steel bridges. 64 per cent of land required for the construction of the project has been acquired, most of which is from Gujarat and some from Maharashtra.It is also worthy to note that this involvement of private players comes with a backdrop of railways trying to attract private players for its Rs 1-trillion station redevelopment and Rs 300 billion private train project. The last date of application for private investors is October 7.

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Mizoram To Build Rs 139 Billion Pumped Storage Power Plant

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday announced plans to construct a 2,400 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Hnahthial district, marking a major step towards achieving energy self-sufficiency in the state. Addressing the Mizo Students’ Union general conference in Hnahthial town, the Chief Minister said the plant would be developed across the Darzo Nallah, a tributary of the Tuipui river. Once operational, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting Mizoram’s rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported power. Officials from the State Power..

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Centre Plans Nationwide Opening Of Power Retail Market

India is preparing to open up its retail electricity market to private companies nationwide, effectively ending the long-standing monopoly of state-run power distributors in most regions, according to a draft bill released by the Union Power Ministry on Friday. The move will enable major private sector players — including Adani Enterprises, Tata Power, Torrent Power, and CESC — to expand their presence across the country’s electricity distribution landscape. A similar reform attempt in 2022 had faced strong opposition from state-run distribution companies (discoms), which currently dom..

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

CEA Sets 100 GW Nuclear Target For India By 2047

In a landmark step marking its 52nd Foundation Day, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) unveiled an ambitious roadmap to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with India’s long-term Net-Zero commitment and energy security objectives. The event, held at the Central Water Commission auditorium in New Delhi’s R.K. Puram, was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, who served as the Chief Guest. The roadmap sets out a detailed plan to expand India’s nuclear capacity from its current level of approximately 8,180 MW as of early 2025, outl..