India plans to introduce high-speed bullet trains that can travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h, with the first line to be completed by 2022 at a total cost of $17 billion funded mostly through Japanese loans. Bullet trains will provide a fast transportation alternative to air travel for distances between 750-1000 km and help reduce congestion on existing rail lines while creating competition for airlines and potentially transporting urgent freight or military troops if needed. However, ensuring timely completion without issues of corruption poses challenges to the success of the bullet train project.

1. Bullet trains in
India
What & Why?

2. What?
❖ High speed railways running with speed of approx
320km/hr.
❖ To be completed by 2022.
❖ Total cost of project USD 17 bn. ( 81% to be given by
Japan in low interest loans)
❖ Fare : 1.5 times of existing AC 1st class fare.
❖ Equipped with high standard technology, which is
already successful in Japan.

3. Why?
❖ Requirement of high speed transport alternative for air transport.
❖ Huge economic benefits, way beyond operational and construction
cost.
❖ Economically viable for travelling distance in range of 750 - 1000 kms.
❖ It’ll also help to reduce burden on existing railway transports.
❖ Will create a competition between civil aviation sector and high speed
railways.
❖ Can be used for urgent freight transport if required.
❖ Can be used for connecting important military centres for fast
movement of army troops in future.

4. Challenges
❖ Timely completion of the project.
❖ To be able to achieve it’s objectives without being a
victim of corruption.