A team of experts from Japan International Construction Company (JICC) and Japan External Trade Organisation will land in Bangalore during May to study the feasibility of running high-speed trains in the State, including a bullet train service between Mysore and Chennai via Bangalore.
Elaborating on the discussions he held with the Japanese authorities during his road shows in Singapore and Japan for the Global Investor Meet-2012, Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani said the experts will submit a detailed project report (DPR) on the feasibility of setting up high-speed rail corridors.
The project has been conceptualised in three phases between Mysore and Chennai via Bangalore, between Bangalore and Belgaum via Davangere and Hubli, and between Bangalore and Gulbarga.
The high-speed train project will require a dedicated rail link and will cost Rs 200 crore per km.
“We have held only preliminary discussion with the Japanese authorities. We know there is long way to go, but we thought there was nothing wrong in making a beginning,”
Nirani said replying to queries from reporters whether it was practically
possible to implement such extravagant projects.
To a query on the clearance required from the Centre for these projects, especially the bullet train corridor, Nirani said the State government would hold a discussion in this regard soon.
Tunnel road
Japanese highway experts will also explore the possibility of constructing a tunnel road for providing a permanent solution to the problematic Shiradi Ghat stretch, which connects Sakleshpur with Mangalore.
The Japanese have agreed to share their expertise on constructing a peripheral ring road around the State capital during their visit to Bangalore.
On the business model for the projects, Nirani said the venture would be purely Japanese one a BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis. There will be no investment from the State government in the projects, he said.
