As reported, railways infrastructure enhancement has been one of points of discussion between Modi and Li Keqiang.
The development of human infrastructure by trainings and setting up of universities is also an area in which China is helping us.
China has a lot to offer to the Indian Railways, Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu said while speaking to the media in Vadodara on Saturday. Prabhu said, “China has already said it is going to help us in three-four areas, including setting up the first high-speed train between Delhi and Chennai, for which we have to do feasibility study. China will also help us in station development and setting up of railway universities.”
“In the next few years’ time, we are working on technology upgradation in participation with countries like China, which has high technology for speed trains. The development of human infrastructure by trainings and setting up of universities is also an area in which China is helping us. We also need to bring in investment in the sector so as to improve customer service and safety,” Prabhu, who was in Vadodara to participate in an award function organised by the Federation of Gujarat Industries, said.
As reported, railways infrastructure enhancement has been one of the points of discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang, during the former’s visit to China. Raising train speed, training to handle heavy haul operations and setting up of universities were discussed. Vadodara’s National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR) is likely to be the first to be upgraded as a railway university, for which China has already assured support.
Prabhu said that apart from China, other countries such as Japan, South Korea, France, Germany and Spain have also shown “tremendous interest” in technology upgradation for the Indian Railways. Japan has already expressed the willingness to invest in the proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. “We need technology upgradation and to find out if there are other countries that can participate in our development plans. Other countries like Japan will help us create Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, for which we are doing feasibility studies. Besides Korea, France, Germany, Spain, there are tremendous interest on the part of other counties also. Technology cooperation with China, Japan and France is what we are looking at,” Prabhu said.