Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train: Rotating chairs, leg-rest, coffee-maker and separate washrooms!
Whether the much-awaited Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will run successfully is a question for later days, but its designing will surely be one of a kind. Of the ten coaches, one will be business class with leg-rests, space for luggage, rotating chairs, coffee-maker, hand towel warmers, refrigerators and more. Other prominent features include separate washrooms for men and women as well as the specially-abled.
'35 bullet trains, 70 services, 40,000 passengers by 2023'
The 35 bullet trains will have 70 services between Mumbai and Ahmedabad and will carry 40,000 passengers by 2023, said officials of National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), the agency responsible for implementing the project. They added that apart from providing passenger amenities, the bullet trains will have advanced operational system. "We expect to start construction by year-end," said Achal Khare, MD, NHSRCL.
Bullet trains to run only after track inspection: NHSRCL
Owing to a series of train derailments recently, NHSRCL said the bullet trains will run only after the tracks are inspected. During inspection, to be done every 10 days, a block will be maintained between 12.00am to 6.00am. An assembling depot will be specially set up in Surat after Thane and Sabarmati, where testing of tracks will be done.
Not without challenges: Acquiring land from villagers at the top
However, the project faces many challenges. Acquiring land from villagers remains the foremost, as the track will go through 108 villages covering Thane, Palghar and Mumbai affecting 10,000 locals. Palghar villagers are already protesting. Another major challenge is rupee depreciation. India might have to return more than Rs. 88,000cr it took in soft loan from Japan, as rupee is likely to depreciate against yen.
