Indian Railways plans to run Japanese-style, high-speed bullet trains on five routes across the country, according to Indian news reports.
The state rail company is planning to select an international consultancy to carry out a study in August, Indian Railways Board Chairman Kalyan Coomar Jena told The Calcutta Telegraph.
However, the trains are expected to cost around Rs600 per kilometre, making it seem "improbable" in India at this time, Jena admitted to reporters.
The five selected routes are Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Chennai-Ernakulam via Coimbatore and Bangalore, Delhi-Amritsar and Howrah-Haldia.
The chairman also unveiled plans to build two "world class" stations on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar – one of 25 sites identified for model stations across the country - and Bangalore.
Jena told reporters that a Chinese team has already visited the proposed site in the state capital and is set to draw up a masterplan soon.
By staff writer
