First bullet-train project in take-off position: PatilWork on first bullet train project to kickstart

NASHIK: The work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is set to take off shortly.
While the Rs 90,000 crore project is underway, the Indian Railways is also working on driverless metro trains in Delhi, the chief PRO, Central Railways, Mumbai Narendra Patil said.
While felicitating the top students at a programme organized by the Institution of Engineers (India) on Thursday (Engineers' day), Patil stressed on the need to increase the skilled workforce to 8% from the current 3% to imbibe innovation in the core sectors.
He said that the first bullet train is in take-off position. "The bullet train will be a reality soon as the agreement with the Japanese government is completed. We developed all the technologies, yet we do not have this, which is 60 years old and operating in other countries. Even though it is costlier, we can't stop the advancement," Patil said.
The driverless metro trains in Delhi is a first-of-its-kind in the country. Patil said, "The Rs 98,000 crore Delhi Freight Corridor (DFC), which begins from Delhi and goes via Rajsthan, Gujarat and finally reaches JNPT Mumbai, is in progress and will be completed by 2018. Around 1,500km freight lines are to be laid down, which will be dedicated for freight transporting only. This will ease out the pressure on the existing rail lines, thereby increasing the average speed of express trains."
Speaking about the skilled development programme kickstarted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Patil said "Around 74% of the total workforce in Germany is skilled, 80% in Japan, 96% in Korea and 47% in China. But, India it is only 3%. So, we need to increase the proportion of the skilled workforce in the country. This is why the Prime Minister has launched a skilled development programme and set up a skill development ministry."
The Rs 90,000-crore ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is in take-off position and its works is expected to begin shortly. Moreover, the Indian Railways is also working on driverless metro trains which would be operational shortly in Delhi, informed Narendra Patil, the chief PRO, Central Railways, Mumbai.
Narendra Patil, was here in Nashik on Friday to felicitate the topper engineers at a programme, organised by the Institution of Engineers (India) on the occasion of Engineers' Day here. Patil was speaking on Innovation and innovation in core sectors. Patil also stressed the need of skilled workforce, which requires to increase from present three per cent to 8 per cent in next few years for the development of the country.
"The first bullet train project from Mumbai to Ahmedabad is in take-off position and works are expected to begin shortly. The agreement with the Japanese government has been completed. The bullet train in the country will be reality soon. Bullet train is a technology, which we have to bring into our nation. We developed all technologies, but still don't have this technology, which is 60 years old and operation in other countries. We can't stop technology although it is costlier," said Patil.
Patil said, "The railway department is also in the process commence driverless metro trains in Delhi. This will be the first project of driverless metro trains. Moreover, Rs 98,000 crore Delhi Freight Corridor (DFC), which begins from Delhi and proceed forward via Rajsthan, Gujarat and finally reaches JNPT Mumbai, is in progress and will be completed by 2018. Around 1,500 kms freight lines are to be laid down under the project, which will be dedicated for freight transporting only. This will ease out the pressure on existing rail lines which will help increased the average speed of express trains on the existing rail lines."
Speaking on the skill development, Patil said, Around 74 per cent of total workforce in Germany are skilled, while it is 80 per cent in Japan, 96 per cent in Korea and 47 per cent in China. But it is only three per cent in India. Hence, we need to increase the proportion of skilled workforce in the country from present three per cent to 8 per cent in next few years. Hence, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a skilled development programme and set up new skill development ministry for the purpose." He added, "Innovations and skill developments are keys to success."
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