The conduct of the Indian counterpart caused the delays

• Former Japanese Minister levels serious allegations against Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

• The Indian side altered terms for its own convenience and failed to honour its promises.

Former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara

Tokyo (Japan) – Former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara has levelled serious allegations against India regarding the India–Japan bullet train project. In a post on X, Makihara claimed that the conduct of an Indian minister was the primary reason for the project’s ongoing delay.

https://x.com/SanatanPrabhat/status/2078477615128826039

Makihara further noted –

1. Having been personally involved in this project, I saw firsthand how tirelessly the Japanese team worked. Unfortunately, despite those immense efforts, the project failed to yield the expected results.

2. The Indian side repeatedly failed to honour its commitments. Even after agreements were officially signed, they were later withdrawn. Right up until the final moment, terms were altered to suit their convenience, ultimately stalling the progress of the bullet train project.

3. Although Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited India from July 1^st to 3^rd, the visit yielded no breakthrough. Nevertheless, the two nations announced 129 agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across investment, industry, manufacturing, technology, skill development, and supply chains.

4. I am 100% certain that India is responsible for the bullet train project not moving forward.

No official response from India yet

The Union Government and officials overseeing the Mumbai–Ahmedabad (Karnavati) bullet train project have yet to issue an official response to Makihara’s allegations.

Project Launched in 2017

India’s first bullet train, designed to connect Ahmedabad and Mumbai, was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on 14^th September, 2017, in Ahmedabad. Covering a distance of 508 km, the high-speed rail is expected to slash travel time between the two cities from the conventional 7 – 8 hours to about 3 hours.

Editorial Perspective

It is a matter of shame for the Government that even a foreign national had to endure the same frustrating bureaucratic hurdles that ordinary Indians face every day.