'Fake news': Ministry of Railways denies rejecting Japanese bullet train technology
Releasing a fact check on these 'fake news' reports, the Ministry said that it has taken no such decision to reject Japanese technology.
'Some articles and social media posts claim that the Ministry of Railways has decided to not run the Japanese bullet train on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. This claim is misleading! The Railway Ministry has made no such decision,' said a statement.
The Ministry said that in the spirit of the strategic partnership between India and Japan, the Government of Japan has decided to introduce the next-generation E10 Shinkansen trains for this project.
It is noteworthy that E10 will be introduced simultaneously in India and Japan, it added.
'The entire 508-kilometre corridor is being developed using Japanese Shinkansen technology, setting new benchmarks in speed, safety, and reliability,' said the ministry.
Earlier, the Ministry shared details on the opening of the first section of the 21-km undersea tunnel between BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) and Thane.
It said in a statement that the bullet train project recently achieved a major milestone by completing 310 km of viaduct construction.
'Track laying, construction of overhead electrical wires, stations, and bridges is going on at a rapid pace. The construction work in Maharashtra has also picked up pace. In parallel, the progress on procurement of systems for operations and control is also going on well,' said the Ministry.
In the spirit of strategic partnership between Japan and India, the Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project.
Civil works are progressing at a rapid pace across the alignment. About 310 km of viaduct have been constructed. Fifteen river bridges are completed, and four are in the advanced stages of construction. Out of 12 stations, 5 are complete, and 3 more are now reaching the completion stage.
'The station at BKC is an engineering marvel. The station will be located 32.5 m below ground, and the foundation is designed to support the construction of a 95-meter building above ground,' said the Ministry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
MIPCL- Sumitomo Corporation sign strategic cooperation agreement with Osaka Govt.
To support Japanese businesses expanding into India Mahindra Industrial Park Chennai (MIPCL), the developer and operator of Origins by Mahindra, together with its 40% stakeholder and marketing arm in Japan, Sumitomo Corporation, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Osaka Prefecture, and the Osaka Industrial Development Bureau (a public interest incorporated foundation to support Japanese companies based in Osaka in expanding their footprint in India. This milestone partnership reinforces Mahindra's commitment to facilitating high-quality global investment into India's manufacturing sector and positions Tamil Nadu as a preferred destination for Japanese industry. Through this agreement, MIPCL and Sumitomo Corporation will work in close coordination with public institutions to serve as a local facilitator for Osaka-based companies exploring opportunities in India. As part of the collaboration, MIPCL and Sumitomo Corporation will support business visits, provide on-ground consultation, and participate in knowledge-sharing seminars hosted in Osaka. The Osaka authorities, in turn, will identify and recommend companies interested in expanding into India, with necessary permissions, ensuring a streamlined entry process for Japanese manufacturers. India, with its projected GDP growth of 6.3% in FY2025 as forecast by the World Bank, remains a powerful draw for international business. As a rising leader in the Global South, India is increasingly seen as a long-term partner for global supply chains. Chennai, particularly, has become a hub of industrial activity due to its strong port connectivity, ease of access to Southeast Asia, and growing presence of automotive, electronics, and semiconductor companies. Origins by Mahindra, Chennai already is home to six clients from Japan and offers world-class infrastructure, and stable policy environment. The collaboration in Chennai will further strengthen these efforts by enabling tailored support for businesses evaluating the Indian market. MIPCL, backed by Mahindra Lifespaces' deep knowledge of Indian industry, will play a key role in helping Japanese firms navigate regulatory frameworks, secure land and utilities, and scale up operations with confidence.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Reliance is trying to become "the coolest one"
After pushing its own mobiles and soft drinks into India's vast consumer market, Reliance Retail has set its eyes on selling refrigerators, ACs and washing machines in a segment dominated by global giants such as LG and Samsung. The company is rolling out a bold strategy anchored in legacy, scale and disruption to dominate the fast-growing consumer durables business. Reliance Retail has been expanding its private-label portfolio and growing its footprint in home electronics and appliances, a segment boosted by rising incomes, urbanisation and mounting competition. As of June 2024, India's consumer goods market was the fastest-growing among major economies and could nearly double to Rs 3 lakh crore by 2029, according to an EY report. Reliance Retail's foray into the consumer durables segment represents a strategic expansion that mirrors its earlier playbook in the FMCG space -- reviving legacy brands, leveraging distribution muscle and disrupting a multinational-dominated market with a " Made in India " narrative. The recent acquisition of the iconic Kelvinator brand marks a significant milestone in this journey and signals the company's long-term ambitions in India's fast-growing home appliances market. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Artificial Intelligence Degree Product Management Finance Public Policy Data Science Healthcare Data Science Project Management Others Digital Marketing MCA Management healthcare Operations Management Data Analytics Design Thinking MBA Cybersecurity others PGDM Technology CXO Leadership Skills you'll gain: Duration: 7 Months S P Jain Institute of Management and Research CERT-SPJIMR Exec Cert Prog in AI for Biz India Starts on undefined Get Details From licensing to ownership: Kelvinator's strategic role Reliance Retail on Friday announced that it has bought Kelvinator from Sweden's Electrolux to broaden its range of offerings in the durables market. Kelvinator, a legacy brand going a century back, is known for pioneering home refrigeration and its popular 'The Coolest One' tagline in the 1970s and 80s. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing Older Women should Avoid Learn More Undo Reliance Retail's move to fully acquire Kelvinator, from being a licensee since 2019, transforms its relationship with the brand from a tactical play into a strategic asset. The Kelvinator name, synonymous with refrigerators and washing machines for decades, still commands trust among older Indian consumers. Although its presence had faded post liberalization and with the dominance of Korean and Japanese players, the brand's latent equity makes it a strong candidate for revival under Reliance's stewardship. By integrating Kelvinator into its portfolio, Reliance gains more than just a brand. It inherits a lineage of product design, recall and goodwill that can be scaled rapidly across its retail empire. The plan is to push not just refrigerators and washing machines, but expand into air conditioners and kitchen appliances, aligning with rising demand from a growing middle class and increasing urbanisation. Live Events Wyzr , the opening gambit The acquisition dovetails with Reliance Retail's earlier 2024 launch of Wyzr, a homegrown consumer durables brand positioned as a disruptor to multinationals like LG, Samsung and Whirlpool . Wyzr marks Reliance's intent to go beyond legacy brands and build new-age offerings tailored to Indian consumers, with competitive pricing and design suited for Indian conditions. Reliance's dual-brand strategy -- Kelvinator as a legacy player and Wyzr as an aspirational, value-driven brand -- allows it to target both traditional and younger, aspirational consumer segments. The company is reportedly engaging with domestic contract manufacturers while planning to build its own facilities in the medium term, aiming at control quality, cost and innovation. Haier and Whirlpool in crosshairs Reliance isn't just looking to grow organically but actively eyeing major inorganic opportunities. Reports of its interest in a strategic stake in Haier's India operations, as well as its bid for controlling interest in Whirlpool's India business, underscore its intent to consolidate the fragmented consumer durables landscape. These moves, if successful, could catapult Reliance into the top tier of players in India's appliance market overnight. With Haier looking to localise and Whirlpool potentially changing hands, Reliance is positioning itself as a natural homegrown partner for global giants who need distribution and operational support in India's complex market. The competition is stiff as Bharti Group and Havells are also in the fray for Haier and Whirlpool respectively. But Reliance's deep pockets and operational muscle give it a clear edge. FMCG playbook redux: From Campa to Kelvinator The consumer durables strategy closely echoes Reliance's approach in FMCG, where it bought legacy brands like Campa Cola, Raskik and Sosyo to quickly build shelf presence and brand recognition. The approach is clear --- acquire heritage brands, modernize them, and plug them into Reliance's expansive distribution system and scale fast. This strategy bypasses the long gestation period required to build new brands from scratch and leverages nostalgia and trust, both powerful emotional drivers in Indian consumption. What sets Reliance apart from other players is its integrated ecosystem, from retail stores and online platforms to telecom and payments businesses. These allow it to not just sell products, but also create whole systems for marketing, logistics and after-sales support. Consumer durable products sold through this ecosystem generate rich consumer data, enabling personalised offers, servicing models and upselling across product categories. Moreover, Reliance's deep discounting power, control over shelf space and fast execution give it significant advantages over legacy brands that rely on traditional dealer-distributor models. So far, Reliance's own brands, Reconnect and Wyzr which it has founded, have met with limited success. But it is trying to majorly disrupt the market by combining the nostalgia and trust of legacy brands like Kelvinator with the energy of new entrants like Wyzr, and by aggressively pursuing M&A deals with global majors. Reliance may want to do a Jio in the consumer durable market but it's a long-term bet.
United News of India
5 hours ago
- United News of India
NHs network is now second-largest road network in the world: Harsh Malhotra
New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) Minister of State for Transport & Highways Harsh Malhotra today said that India's national highways network has expanded significantly from 91,000 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km today, making it the second-largest road network in the world. Addressing the Road and Highways Summit here, Malhotra emphasised that these modern highways are not just roads they are lifelines of progress, connecting people, industries and opportunities, an official statement said. "By expanding the network, the government has redefined the very experience of travel -- making it faster, safer and significantly more comfortable for every citizen," he said. He said that the government's spending on road infrastructure has increased 6.4 times between 2013–14 and 2024–25, with a 57 per cent rise in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This, he said reflects the government's unwavering commitment to connectivity, mobility and economic growth. The Minister also stated that in recent years road infrastructure has created 45 crore man-days of direct employment, 57 crore man-days of indirect employment and 532 crore man-days of induced employment which demonstrates the substantial impact of infrastructure projects on job creation across various sectors. Malhotra also stated that more than 10,000 km of National Highways constructed in North Eastern Region during the past decade, which demonstrates the government's commitment to the region. He also highlighted the Delhi Decongestion Plan, which aims to reduce the traffic congestion and pollution in the city and would improve connectivity in the city. The plan includes extension of Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (NE-5) from KMPE till UER-II (NH-344M) in Delhi and Haryana, Extension of UER-II (NH-344M) near Alipur till Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B) near Tronica City in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, construction of a road tunnel starting from Dwarka Expressway (near Shiv Murti Mahipalpur) to Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj. He said the the Ministry is in process of developing 700+ Wayside Amenities (WSAs) by 2028-29 that offer clean restrooms, quality food, rest areas, fuel stations, and EV charging points. Stating that the Ministry was according top priority to the road safety said, "14000 accident prone blackspots have been rectified. Minister also applauded the successful implementation of schemes like the good samaritan scheme and the cashless golden hour scheme". The Minister further stated that with initiatives like the Green Highways Policy and 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', the Ministry has planted over 4.78 crore trees and transplanted around 70,000 trees along national highways. He said that the Ministry has also adopted sustainable construction practices including the use of over 80 lakh tonnes of plastic waste in major projects such as UER-II and the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway. Additionally, fly ash from thermal power plants is being incorporated into highway construction, reducing the need for raw materials and lowering emissions. "The construction of more highways is pivotal to achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Every rupee invested in highway development yields a threefold return to the GDP, unlocks vast employment opportunities and opens multiple channels for revenue generation and the government is not just building roads— it is laying the foundation for a prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Bharat," he added. UNI RBE PRS
