Stage set for Foundation stone for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train

New Delhi/Ahmedabad: Stage is set for much talked about Fourth Narendra Modi-Abe Summit wherein the two leaders are expected to give the 'Special Strategic and Global Partnership' between the two countries its "future direction". According to official sources, Japanese Prime Minister Abe will arrive Ahmedabad tomorrow. He is likely to visit Sabarmati Ashram, Mahatma Gandhi's Karmabhoomi and Siddi Sayyaid ki Jaali, an excellent model of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The intricately carved stone window is part of a great attraction in the 500-year-old Siddi Saiyad Mosque situated near Lal Darwaja built by the erstwhile Sultanate of Gujarat.

On September 14, the visiting dignitary will join Prime Minister Modi to lay the foundation stone of the 508-km long Mumbai-Ahmadabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR). When complete, ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will be a landmark for the country’s advent for advanced technology and this will go a long way in “discarding” 160 year-old obsolete system, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has said. “This project is a golden opportunity where Indian Railways will be able to join the era of advanced technologies, this will revolutionise and transform India's transportation system," he said yesterday. The 'Bullet train' which will have a maximum speed of 350 km per hour will reduce travel time between country's two traders' paradise - Mumbai and Ahmedabad - to around 2 hours from the existing 7-8 hours.

Answering questions Mr Goyal clarified that September 14 function 'Ground Breaking Ceremony' to be graced by Prime Ministers Modi and Shinzo Abe, will not only mark foundation laying ceremony but “it will be the commencement of work”. A dedicated high-speed rail training institute is also being developed at Vadodara. Prime Minister Abe is then scheduled to visit Dandi Kutir, India’s only museum built on the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. "It represents Mahatma Gandhi’s powerful idea of people across lines of class, gender, age and community asserting their common right to salt itself: a symbol to inspire a pluralistic society to march towards independence," sources said.

There will be delegation level talks between two sides at around 1200 noon on September 14. A few agreements are expected to be signed, Joint Secretary East Asia, Pranay Verma, has said. "The visit has a wide spectrum of agenda,’’ he has said. Mr Abe will also participate at an India-Japan Business Plenary session before leaving for Tokyo. (UNI)