Bullet Train – Some questions and answers :
Qn.1 The Bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai costs same as flight, and also takes same time. Then why spend so much money ? Why not increase number of flights ?
Ans : A flight serves destination to destination. The bullet train will serve 12 stations in between. With 12 stations on the route having high speed connectivity, the entire stretch will develop as an economic corridor. Once the HST is functional, economic zones will come up all along the high speed network. This will create millions of jobs in next 15-20 years.
______________
Qn 2 : Why not take soft loan of ₹88,000 crore for improving health and education rather than fancy bullet trains ?
Ans : The low interest loan is given by any country to promote something which is exclusive to itself- be it its own technology or science or defence. Japan or France will not give you free loans for building hospitals or schools as they don’t gain anything in that scenario. The loan is SPECIFICALLY for Shinkansen technology, not for any other work.
______________
Qn 3 : We will be dependent on them. How will it help us in future ?
Ans. : This is not just the money or construction being done by Japan. We are also getting the technology of HST from Japan. Just like we are self-sufficient in metro today (which was also given to us by Japan), we will become self-reliant in bullet trains 15-20 years down the lane.
______________
Qn 4 : Why Ahmedabad-Mumbai ? Why not other place ?
Ans – As much as you cry foul, you cannot deny the fact that Mumbai-Surat-Bharuch-Vadodara-Anand-Ahmedabad is a massive industrial hub, with these places being economic, trading and financial hubs of western India. The fact that such big industrialised cities are within 500 km makes it (the project) financially feasible. Once successful, 5 more bullet train networks will also come.
Please share and help in busting some misconceptions.
Courtesy: Kshitij Mohan Singh
