The recent launch of the highly expensive Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail (HSR) project has drawn criticisms of being elitist.
However, a closer scrutiny reveals the many opportunities and advantages of the bullet train projects.
What are the benefits?
The project provides for Japan to transfer the Shinkansen technology.
Besides, it will also train Indian workforce in sophisticated construction technologies, providing a fillip to Make-in-India.
As an aspirational project, HSR will help IR build international standards of engineering and services.
Also, HSR technology is environmentally benign and addresses the concerns of depleting fossil fuel reserves, climate change, etc.
HSR facilitates a much lower energy consumption per passenger km.
As, it emits one-eighth of carbon dioxide that cars emit and one-fifth of airplanes per passenger km.
Besides, it comes as an alternative in the context of overcrowded airports, delayed flights and congested roads.
It requires much less land than motorways and thus has more passenger carrying capacity.
By helping alleviate migration to metropolises, it can be a catalyst for economic growth and be a stimulus for the development of satellite towns.
The development of important centres along the route can facilitate a wide range of economic activity, providing jobs.
By providing services from and to city centres, it has the potential to boost tourism, escalate property values, and aid the growth of services sector in new areas.
