Biting the bullet: Will India's Bullet Train project become a reality soon?

A major cause of concern for the project is rising costs and the commissioning date. From Rs 1.10 trillion in 2017, the cost has been revised up to Rs 1.65 trillion, up 50 per cent

In February of 2007, J P Batra, Railway Board chairman at the time, presented the idea of a high-speed rail to then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. A socialist inspired by Jayaprakash Narayan, Yadav said his principles would never allow a premium train only the bourgeoisie could afford.

 

Batra, already credited with the Deccan Odyssey, a luxury tourism train, was so keen on the project that he defied the minister and convinced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to give the green signal. Batra and Finance Commissioner R Sivadasan visited Gujarat and other states without even informing Yadav.

 

The Railway Board even