Most of these “bullet train will fail” videos miss one important thing: by the time this line is operational - 2027-2028, India’s economy would be $5 trillion+, giving us a good viability for several HSR lines. Frankly, I thought us building HSR was too early. A semi HSR of around 200kmph needs to be first ensured - will mostly happen after freight traffic is moved to dedicated corridors and making some adjustments in rails in select routes. Also IR needs to develop ways to run 200-250kmph trains on existing rails, as installing new semi HSR capable rails will be too expensive and take years to complete. Once iR finishes the semi HSR projects including all the RRTS type rails, then around 2025 or so we could consider HSR, and build something for operations by 2030. For India, HSR is a post 2025 or 2030s decade project. We have to first pour as much money as possible into making urban infrastructure of our top 100 cities world class. Cities are the engines of growth. HSR is just a distraction for now - really not needed until the 2030s or so.
‘the other thing people fail to realize is - you want to acquire land early even if the project is executed later. In a country like India, land costs can make or break a project. Consider why De;hi Mumbai expressway had to be routed through traditionally backward areas - much cheaper land. MH government are fools to not acquire land right now even if project is constructed later on. As our economy grows, so will the land prices gallop, and the whole project will become 50-60% more expensive. Our infrastructure cost overruns are already between $75-90 billion dollars. That is like 5 HSR rail projects already. This is what socialist politicians don’t get but a business minded party like the BJP totally gets. For infrastructure projects to succeed, the input costs have to be as low as possible. Shiv Sena needs to get its face out of its ass now and act to acquire land ASAP.
www.businessinsider.in
