Bullet Train project: 80 per cent of excavation work at BKC station completed, says NHSRCL
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
From deep urban shafts to mountain tunnels and marine crossings, the Bullet Train project is progressing fast, with 80 per cent of excavation work completed at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station in Mumbai, an official release said on Saturday.Of the 21-km-long underground and undersea tunnel between BKC and Shilphata in Thane district, 16 km is being excavated using Tunnel Boring Machines and 5 km with the help of the New Austrian Tunnelling Method, said the National High-Speed Rail Corporation of India Limited ( NHSRCL ) in the release.The NHSRCL, which is implementing the 508-km rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, said that base slab casting has already commenced at both ends of the BKC station site, at a depth of 100 feet below ground level.About 80 per cent of the excavation work at the station has been completed, it said.Base slab casting has been completed at Vikhroli (56 metres deep) and Sawli shaft (39 metres deep). These shafts are essential for launching tunnel boring machines and facilitating underground work, the release said.Work on the Thane, Virar, and Boisar elevated stations in Maharashtra is progressing at an accelerated pace, it said, adding that pier work is being executed at multiple locations, with approximately 44 kilometres of piers cast so far.In the Palghar district, excavation of seven mountain tunnels is underway, and construction has commenced on bridges across Vaitarna, Ulhas, and Jagani rivers, NHSRCL said.The total cost of the project is pegged at Rs 1.08 lakh crore, and as per the shareholding pattern, the Government of India is to pay Rs 10,000 crore to the NHSRCL, while the two states involved, Gujarat and Maharashtra, are to pay Rs 5,000 crore each.The rest is to be paid by Japan through a loan at 0.1 per cent interest.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
BRICS nations voice 'serious concerns' over Trump tariffs
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday are expected to decry US President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" trade tariffs, saying they are illegal and risk hurting the global nations, which represent about half the world's population and 40 percent of global economic output, have united over "serious concerns" about US import tariffs, according to a draft summit statement obtained by AFP on coming to office in January, Trump has threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive latest salvo comes in the form of letters informing trading partners of new tariff rates that will soon enter into draft summit declaration does not mention the United States or its president by name, and could yet be amended by leaders gathering for talks Sunday and it is a clear political shot directed at Washington from 11 emerging nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa."We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO (World Trade Organization) rules," the draft text warns that such measures "threaten to further reduce global trade" and are "affecting the prospects for global economic development."- Xi no show -Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to Western the summit's political punch will be depleted by the absence of China's Xi Jinping, who is skipping the annual meeting for the first time in his 12 years as absence has prompted fevered speculation in some quarters."The simplest explanation may hold the most explanatory power. Xi recently hosted Lula in Beijing," said Ryan Hass, a former China director at the US National Security Council who is now with the Brookings Institution think Chinese leader will not be the only notable absentee. War crime-indicted Russian President Vladimir Putin is also opting to stay away, but will participate via video link, according to the said Putin's non-attendance and the fact that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be a guest of honor in Brazil could also be factors in Xi's absence."Xi does not want to appear upstaged by Modi," who will receive a state lunch, he said."I expect Xi's decision to delegate attendance to Premier Li (Qiang) rests amidst these factors."Still, the Xi no-show is a blow to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva , who wants Brazil to play a bigger role on the world the year to November 2025, Brazil will have hosted a G20 summit, a BRICS summit, and COP30 international climate talks, all before heading into fiercely contested presidential elections next year, in which he is expected to warmly welcomed leaders and dignitaries on Saturday, including China's Premier Li Qiang, as the leftist president hosted a pre-summit business forum in Rio."Faced with the resurgence of protectionism , it is up to emerging countries to defend the multilateral trade regime and reform the international financial architecture," Lula told the President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still reeling from a 12-day conflict with Israel, is also skipping the meeting and will be represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.A source familiar with the negotiations said Iran had sought a tougher condemnation of Israel and the United States over their recent bombing of Iranian military, nuclear and other one diplomatic source said the text would give the "same message" that BRICS delivered last Iran's allies expressed "grave concern" about strikes against Iran, but did not explicitly mention Israel or the United intelligence and health will also be on the agenda at the members of the bloc Brazil, Russia, India, and China have been joined by South Africa and, more recently, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia.
Hans India
42 minutes ago
- Hans India
Concern over too much money in too few hands
Ranchi: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday expressed concern over the "rising" number of poor, and said wealth was getting concentrated in the hands of some affluent people. There is a need for decentralisation of wealth, Gadkari said during an event in Nagpur, where he touched upon a range of issues, including agriculture, manufacturing, taxation and public-private partnerships in infrastructure development. "Slowly the number of poor people is increasing and wealth is getting centralised in the hands of some wealthy people. It should not happen," the road transport and highways minister said. The economy must grow in a manner that creates jobs and uplifts rural areas, he said. "We are looking at an economic option that will create jobs and (give a boost to the) growth of the economy. There is a need for decentralisation of wealth, and many changes have happened in that direction," he said. The senior BJP leader also credited former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh for adopting liberal economic policies but cautioned against unchecked centralisation. "We have to be worried about it," he added. Referring to India's economic structure, he pointed out the imbalance in sectoral contributions to GDP. "Manufacturing contributes 22-24 percent, services 52-54 percent, while agriculture, despite engaging 65-70 percent of the rural population, contributes only around 12 percent," he said. Invoking Swami Vivekananda, Gadkari said, "Philosophy cannot be taught to someone whose stomach is empty." He highlighted the evolving role of chartered accountants, Gadkari said, "CAs can be the growth engines of the economy. Our economy is changing rapidly. It is not only about filing income tax returns and GST submissions." Talking about the infrastructure development, Gadkari highlighted his own initiatives in the transport sector. "I was the one who started the Build-Operate-Transfer system for road construction," he claimed. There is no shortage of funds for road development, he added. Sometimes I say I do not have a fund crunch but I have a shortage of work," Gadkari said. "Now, we earn nearly Rs 55,000 crore through toll booths and in the next two years, our income will go up to Rs 1.40 lakh crore. If we monetise it for the next 15 years, we will have Rs 12 lakh crore. New toll will add more money to our coffers," he said. The minister also spoke about projects aimed at enhancing regional connectivity and investment. "We are constructing a rope of Rs 5,000 crore in Kedarnath. The contractor is ready to spend the amount and give Rs 800 crore royalty to the Union government. When the Uttarakhand government asked us to share the royalty, I asked whether they would also share the loss-making units," he said. On domestic investments, Gadkari said he has raised funds through Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) bonds without foreign assistance. "I am not accepting money from foreign countries like Canada or the US. I will build roads from the money raised from the poor people of the country," he said, adding that the share which was at Rs 100 has now jumped to Rs 160 and people will get nearly 18 to 20 percent returns.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Interest-free loans for SHGs in TG from July 12
Hyderabad: In keeping with its avowed quest to ring in economic empowerment of women, the State government will distribute interest-free loans to women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in all Assembly constituencies from July 12 to 18. It proposes to distribute Rs 20,000 crore interest-free loans to the identified women groups this year. As a further facilitation, the government will provide bank linkage, loan and accident insurance to SHGs. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka pointed out on Saturday that the government was already supporting women groups economically by commissioning them works like running canteens, repair works in schools and orders for stitching school uniforms. To ensure that the economic gains reach SHGs, the government intends to purchase the products made by them. This translates to a guaranteed market for their investments. The minister was speaking at the 'Indira Mahila Shakti' celebrations, where he also distributed RTC rental cheques to women groups. Urging them to make full use of the encouragement and women-friendly facilities provided by the government and bolster Brand Telangana, Bhatti took potshots at the BRS regime for neglecting interest-free loans and incentives to SHGs in its 10 years in office. The deputy Chief minister said that in a welcome contrast, the Congress government has revived interest-free loans and is encouraging women groups to be engaged in special businesses. Cheques for interest-free loans have been distributed to women groups twice earlier in Hyderabad, he said. He expressed happiness that the government had enabled women groups to purchase buses and lease them to TGSRTC. In the first phase, ₹one crore was handed over to them as rent payments. In the coming days, larger earnings from RTC would be shared with those groups, he added. In line with this goal to turn one crore women into millionaires in the first year itself, interest-free loans worth ₹21,000 crore were disbursed to women's groups. Not less than ₹20,000 crore will be extended as interest-free loans to women groups every year, he averred.
