'Bullet trains won't start running so soon'

The country would not be witnessing operational bullet trains so soon, because the existing/proposed projects will take six to eight years to complete, Railway Board chairman A K Mittal said today.
"Normally such highly technical projects take six to eight years to complete in any country. We have shortlisted Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor for the high-speed train," Mittal told reporters.
He was here to take part in the performance review meeting of the West Central Railway.
Indian Railway ranks first in the world in passenger volume, while on other indicators it ranks fourth, he said.
On increase in crime on trains, he said the spots where the robberies and other crimes are reported most frequently should be identified.

About the railway unions' call of nationwide strike on November 23 on the issue of FDI, he said he had not received any notice so far.
However, he added, that the Prime Minister and the Railway Minister had clarified that Foreign Direct Investment did not mean privatisation of the Railways.