India Rejects Japan Ex-Minister's Claim on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Delay, Calls It 'Individual Opinion'

India on Friday firmly rejected claims by a former Japanese minister blaming New Delhi for delays in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, calling the remarks "an individual opinion" that diverges from the facts. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India-Japan cooperation on the high-speed rail corridor remains on track, with construction progressing rapidly and both sides aligned on operational plans. On a social media post related to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press conference in Delhi, said, "We have seen the post you are referring to. It reflects an individual opinion and is at considerable variance with the facts. India-Japan discussions on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project are progressing well.""Japan

will provide the E20 train series, but only in the early 2030s, as the train is still under development. Meanwhile, construction work has progressed rapidly, and the first section will be operational in 2027. Therefore, both sides agreed to begin operations with an Indian high-speed train. The signalling equipment has been ordered accordingly and is in line with international specifications. No Japanese offer was received in this context," he added. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The joint statement adopted during the Prime Minister of Japan's visit to India addresses several bilateral issues as well as matters on which both sides have articulated their respective viewpoints. The joint statement is self-explanatory as far as your question is concerned."Hideki Makihara, Japan's former Justice Minister and a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, had blamed India for delays in the Indo-Japanese Shinkansen project.According to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, India will begin operations of the first phase of its first bullet train service from August 15, 2027, and the corridor will open in phases, beginning with the Surat-Bilimora section.