Japanese PM, Modi to lay foundation for Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train

Mangalore Today News Network

Ahmedabad, Sep 11, 2017 : After Chinese premier Xi Jinping in 2015, the city of Ahmedabad is now being decked up to welcome its second foreign head of the state Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for two-days on September 13 and 14.

 

The city of Ahmedabad is being decked up and potholed roads on the route Japanese delegation is expected to travel have been resurfaced. Series of performances would also be held along the route to showcase cultural diversity of the country for Japanese to see.

In a packed itinerary, Prime Minister Abe and his host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would arrive in Ahmedabad on Wednesday afternoon and shall visit Mahatma Gandhi’s abode Sabarmati Ashram later in the evening. They would also be paying a visit to 16th-century mosque in the old city - Sidi Saiyad Mosque –known for its iconic window filigree work synonymous with Ahmedabad. They would end the day with a dinner and a closed door meeting at a heritage hotel – House of MG - next to this mosque.

On September 14, both the dignitaries would begin their day by laying a foundation stone for the much talked about Rs 1.08 lakh-crore Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train at Sabarmati Railway Station. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and India’s Railway Ministry has already inked a MoU for the 508-km corridor, with Japan to partially fund the entire project. With the capacity to accommodate 750 people, is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities from seven to roughly three hours. The train, that is expected to be complete by the year 2022, will have a dozen stoppages en route.

A 21-km-long tunnel will also be dug between Boisar and BKC in Mumbai, of which 7km will be under the sea.

Thereafter, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abe would hold the 12th India-Japan Annual Summit, at Mahatma Mandir in the state capital Gandhinagar. This will be the fourth Annual Summit between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abe, where they are expected to review the recent progress in the multifaceted cooperation between India and Japan under the framework of their ’Special Strategic and Global Partnership’.

The summit comes amid rising tension in the region following a nuclear test by North Korea and growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea.

The two countries are also expected to sign multiple economic deals and launch projects, including Suzuki car manufacturing plant at Hansalpur, about 170-km from Ahmedabad, via remote control. A parallel CEO conference is also planned during the visit of Japanese premier.

The two leaders will also visit Dandi Kutir, the museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, at the Mahatma Mandir. Both the leaders would later visit Science City for dinner hosted by Gujarat chief minister before Japanese premier leaves for Tokyo on Thursday night.


courtesy:DHNS