Bullet train is a big gift from Japan to India, says PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe laid the foundation stone of the ambitious Rs 1.08 lakh crore Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project on Thursday. The ground-breaking ceremony of India's first bullet train project was performed at the Athletic Stadium near the Sabarmati railway station.

Pic Courtesy: @RailMinIndia

Ahmedabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe laid the foundation stone of the ambitious Rs 1.08 lakh crore Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project on Thursday.

15 September 2017

14:16 IST

British Transport Police issues advisory for the people.

"Officers attended with @BTP along with @LondonFire & @Ldn_Ambulance We would advise people to avoid the area. More info as we get it," the BTP tweets.

11:55 IST

After laying the foundation stone for the bullet train, PM Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe visit Dandi Kuteer in Gandhinagar.

Dandi Kuteer is a museum is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.

10:30 IST

PM Narendra Modi addresses the gathering at the function of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project in Ahmedabad.

PM Modi says India has taken a huge step towards fulfilling its decades-long dream.

The PM congratulates the people of India on the launch of bullet train project.

PM credits Japan PM Shinzo Abe for the launch the project.

The bullet train project will create jobs, it is human and eco-friendly, PM Modi asserts.

We are now moving from connectivity to 'high-speed connectivity', the PM says adding that this is not the time for slow and steady development, its time to move with pace.

PM Modi heaps praise on the Japanese leader saying Shinzo Abe values India a true friend.

The PM thanks Japan for helping India by sanctioning the huge amount of money at a nominal interest rate and technology for the high-speed rail project.

Japan has agreed to provide Rs 88,000 crore at an interest rate of 0.1 percent to help India set up the bullet train, the PM says.

The bullet train project will provide thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, PM announces.

The PM says his government is focussed on developing waterways, railways and highways.

While Japan will be providing the technology, the bullet train will be assembled in India, says the Prime Minister.

Our railway network is so huge that number of people travelling in trains every week in India is equal to Japan's total population, the PM says.

The PM thanks Gujarat Chief MInister Vijay Rupani and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis for extending full support to the bullet train project.

10:20 IST

Japan PM speaks at the function of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project in Ahmedabad.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe begins his address with "Namaskar".

Abe praises 'friend' PM Modi saying, "The Indian Prime Minister is a far sighted leader, he made a decision of making 'New India' and chose Japan as partner, we completely support it."

"Japan is committed to the scheme of 'Make in India'," Abe announces.

"Our industries are working with India to give a boost to manufacturing in India," the Japanese PM says.

"I would like to state that India-Japan partnership is special, strategic and global," he further says.

"I hope to enjoy the beauty of India through the windows of the Bullet Train when I come to India in a few years," the Japanese PM says.

10:16 IST

PM Narendra Modi and Japan PM Shinzo Abe lay foundation stone for India's first High Speed Rail project.

10:11 IST

Gujarat CM who is also taking part in the event says, "The entire Gujarat is experiencing immense joy today."

10:10 IST

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who is sharing the dais with PM Modi and Abe, says we are not only laying the foundation stone of bullet train, but also laying foundation of 'New India'.

09:59 IST

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal greets Shinzo Abe, says the Bullet Train will be a symbol of brotherhood between the Indians and the Japanese.

09:56 IST

PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart inspect a model of the high speed rail from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

09:51 IST

PM Modi and Shinzo Abe arrive at the stage for inauguration of High Speed Rail from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

09:05 IST

Japan's first lady Akie Abe to visit Blind People’s Association in Ahmedabad.

08:02 IST

PM Modi and Abe are expected to deliberate on cooperation in the nuclear energy sector.

A landmark civil nuclear deal between the two countries providing for collaboration between their industries in the field had come into force in July.

07:51 IST

There may be specific discussions on the long-pending Indian proposal to buy the US-2 amphibious aircraft from Japan and joint development of military equipment to further deepen the defence ties in sync with strategic partnership between the two countries.

India is expected to seal the deal to buy the US-2 amphibious aircraft from Japan.

If the deal goes through, India will buy 12 US-2 ShinMaywa aircrafts in flyway condition and another 18 will be jointly manufactured in India.

Notably, last year, China had reacted angrily to reports that Japan plans to sell weapons to India at cheaper prices, saying that such a move is disgraceful.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and his Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera on September 5 held wide-ranging talks, as part of the India-Japan annual defence ministerial dialogue in Tokyo during which issues relating to the US-2 amphibious aircraft also figured.

07:45 IST

PM Mod and Abe will hold the 12th Indo-Japan annual Summit meeting at Gandhinagar after which agreements will be exchanged. Later, an India-Japan business plenary meeting will be held.

Fifteen agreements will be signed for investments in Gujarat during the visit of the Japanese prime minister.

This is the fourth annual summit between Modi and Abe, where they are expected to review the progress in the multifaceted cooperation between India and Japan under the framework of their Special Strategic and Global Partnership. 

Japan is one of only two countries with which India has such an annual summit mechanism, the other being Russia.

The two Prime Ministers will also attend an India-Japan Business Leaders Forum.

07:34 IST

Highlights of the high-speed rail project:

The bullet train will run at an average speed of 320 km per hour with a maximum speed of 350 km per hour.

508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project will entail an estimated cost of Rs 1,10,000 crore.

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.

In a day, the high-speed train will make 70 Ahmedabad-Mumbai sorties.

07:30 IST

Shinzo Abe's India visit Day 1: As it happened

The Japanese Prime Minister arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday on a two-day visit to India during which he will hold talks with PM Modi.

The streets of Ahmedabad on Wednesday alive with song and dance performances as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held an 8-km road show with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and his wife, the first such event by the Indian premier with a visiting head of government.

In a gesture symbolising the growing ties between the two large Asiatic economies, Abe wore kurta-pyjama and a royal blue Nehru jacket while his wife donned a red salwar-kameez ensemble as they accompanied Modi on the road show from the airport to the Sabarmati Ashram.In a gesture symbolising the growing ties between the two large Asiatic economies, Abe wore kurta-pyjama and a royal blue Nehru jacket while his wife donned a red salwar-kameez ensemble as they accompanied Modi on the road show from the airport to the Sabarmati Ashram.

Sabarmati Ashram was set up by apostle of peace Mahatma Gandhi who spent considerable time of his life there.

The two leaders visited the historic Sabarmati Ashram and the iconic 16th century mosque in the old city, Sidi Saiyad Mosque, on Wednesday.