High-speed rail project in focus as Vaishnaw embarks on Japan visit

Prospects for the ₹1.08 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project brightened with India and Japan agreeing to take steps jointly to take forward the venture, which may include local and global sourcing of some components "if necessary", people familiar with the matter said.

- Rezaul H Laskar and Rajeev Jayaswal

During railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's visit to Japan on Monday, the two sides agreed to cooperate on the project "more closely" with the common objective of expeditiously completing at least a section of it as soon as possible, two of the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

Miffed by delays in the project, India earlier explored alternatives to Japan as the Union government was keen to launch the ambitious project in 2026, ahead of the election in Gujarat the following year.