Modi seeks A'bad-Mumbai high speed corridor announcement in Railway Budget

Plans to expedite work on A’bad-G’nagar metro rail project.

Citing a possibility for "joint development" of two states, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has sought an announcement of making Ahmedabad-Mumbai as a high speed rail corridor in the upcoming Railway Budget.

"I expect the Centre to announce Ahmedabad-Mumbai as a high speed rail corridor in the upcoming Railway Budget. The fastest rail network hub, if created, will expedite joint development of both Gujarat and Maharashtra. Of course, if so happens, Gujarat will have to work harder as most part of the corridor would fall under the state but we will do our best," said Modi at the launch of the first Bombardier MOVIA metro train at its new facility in Savli, Vadodara.

The new metro train is part of an order for 424 MOVIA metro cars for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and was built in 24 months including the time it took to construct the new manufacturing facility.

Moreover, Modi also invited Bombardier Transportation to set up its own port in Gujarat.

"Currently, they (Bombardier) are manufacturing metro cars for India's requirement but plans to export from here. We, therefore, invite them to set up its own port here itself. We will provide them all the facilities so that it enhances their exports," he added.

Meanwhile, after more than six months since DMRC submitted a revised detailed project report (DPR) to Gujarat government on the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro rail project, the latter has planned to expedite the process.

"We have requested the Gujarat government to expedite work on the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro rail project since DPR was submitted over six months ago. After receiving the DPR, the government has so far set up a company for the project but is yet to work further on it. Chief minister Narendra Modi has assured that his government will soon set up a high level committee to expedite work on the project," said E Sreedharan, managing director of DMRC.

Bombardier Transportation plans to manufacture around 350 metro cars per annum from its Savli facility.

The large scale stock and bogies manufacturing site has seen an investment of over Rs 200 crore from Bombardier Transportation.