On Friday Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi expressed his views to Central Government on giving priority to Ahmedabad – Mumbai bullet train proposal in Railway Budget.
Narendra Modi added that for the joint development of both the cities, “a bullet train has become a necessity”. "I expect the Centre to announce Ahmedabad-Mumbai as a high speed rail corridor in the upcoming Railway Budget. The fastest rail network hub, if created, will expedite joint development of both Gujarat and Maharashtra. Of course, if so happens, Gujarat will have to work harder as most part of the corridor would fall under the state but we will do our best," said Modi at the launch of the first Bombardier MOVIA metro train at its new facility in Savli, Vadodara.
The new metro train is part of an order for 424 MOVIA metro cars for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and was built in 24 months including the time it took to construct the new manufacturing facility.
Moreover, Modi also invited Bombardier Transportation to set up its own port in Gujarat.
"Currently, they (Bombardier) are manufacturing metro cars for India's requirement but plans to export from here. We, therefore, invite them to set up its own port here itself. We will provide them all the facilities so that it enhances their exports," he added.
He said the manner in which population is increasing in the big cities and travel time in cities like Mumbai is going up by two to three hours, “a speedy mass transport system is the only solution” adding that rail transport is environment-friendly.
“The pollution percentage with regard to surface transport is 84 per cent due to vehicular traffic, 15 per cent due to aircraft and only 1 per cent for rail transport,” he said.
