COMPARISION OF BULLET TRAIN PROJECT OF INDIA OVER JAPAN’S MAGLEV TRAIN PROJECT
Executive Summary
International construction projects are developed for the betterment of a country. The purpose of this report is to analyze the Bullet Train project and Maglev train project for respective states, India and Japan. Japan’s been providing funds for India’s bullet train project encourage other countries for investments. Additionally, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is also impacted through construction projects that are of high quality.
Furthermore, both projects will have an impact on social and economic factor in the near future. The technologies used in both projects are different and thus require various construction aspects. The report covers how the Bullet train and Maglev train projects will impact their respective countries successfully. Further, the project is constructed in the home country, which affects small Infrastructure companies in some manner. NHSRCL and JR CENTRAL both will complete their projects. However, it was evaluated that the Bullet Train project for India will be completed first. This report strategically covers all the aspects for high-speed rail projects conducted by developed and developing countries. The findings state that developed countries will suffer much less. However, developing countries affect directly and shake their economic conditions indirectly. The recommendation for such projects is to look after their construction processes. It is essential to analyst situations before implementing them.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………………………. 2
1.1. Aim……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
1.2. Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
III. Discussion…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
References……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
I. Introduction
Construction and infrastructure projects are essential for a country’s development to prosper and grow. Railways projects are quite circular now with the need for new technologies in countries. Bullet Train is one of the projects that can be seen as one of the significant infrastructure development. Japan has launched it’s Maglev Train Project – Chuo Shinkansen under JRCentral railway company. Whereas, India has launched its bullet train project like Mumbai Ahmadabad High-Speed Rail Corridor under National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited. The plans from Japan have made there country’s infrastructure secure. Similarly, it has to be seen how the Bullet Train project could lead India to a successful future. Developing countries require such projects for an increase in GDP rates, as well as economic and social growth. Thus, Japan’s project and technologies could help develop country India. Henceforth, the purpose of this report is to compare both projects and gather how Japan’s help could help India accomplish the project successfully.
The structure of this report follows sectional division. The aim and objectives define what this report discuss about and how issues will be covered. Section II background provides an overview of the projects. Section III analyse and discuss various issues related to the topic for international construction. Section IV provides a recommendation for future and summarize key findings in conclusion.
1.1. Aim
This report aims to provide a comparative analysis of India’s Bullet Train project and Japan’s Meglav project, respectively. Further, how Japan’s help could as an investor help developing country like India.
1.2. Objectives
The objectives of this report are in the context of the topic, which is as follows.
- Comparative analysis for Bullet Train and Maglev Train project with respective companies.
- Impact of projects on GDP rate.
- Impact on social and economic rate of country.
- Factors undertaken during the construction process, benefits and limitations.
- Environmental approach for construction projects.
- Explore general considerations of law for under-construction projects.
II. Background
Mumbai Ahmadabad High-Speed Rail Corridor is the bullet train project launched by India. It was first discussed in the feasibility study of the 2009-2010 railway budget. Furthermore, this corridor will start from Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai to Sabarmati Railway Station in Ahmadabad with 508.17 Km long, 155.642 km in Maharashtra, 530 km in Gujarat and 2 km in Dadar and Nagar haveli (Parmar, 2019). Hence, the total length from which this bullet train will have a route of 650 km long.
Furthermore, a pre-feasibility report was conducted in a joint consortium of France, Italffer, Italy, Rites and Systra with annual ridership of 1.1 million. However, this project was re-evaluated after dropping the Mumbai-Pune section. The rail corridor project for Mumbai-Admadabad route was undertaken in September 2013 after India and Japan signed memorandum of understanding.
In this treaty, India’s former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed joint feasibility study report for high-speed railway system on Mumbai-Ahmedabad route completed by July 2015 (“India, Japan discuss the possibility to implement High-Speed Railways system in India”, 2014). Hence, this feasibility study was done to gather traffic forecasting and alignment survey. Further, understanding how much land can be acquired as well as environmental issues for tunnel and bridge development and construction. Further, the estimated cost of the project is decided to be 1.10 lack crore from which 81% of the project cost will be funded through Japan International Corporation Agency (“Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train to have 12 stations: Details here”, 2019). Further, this project had an estimated calculation for launch in December 2023.
Maglev Train Project or Chuo Shinkansen is the construction of a railway line between Tokyo and Nagoya and extension to Osaka. On May 27, 2011, the Japanese transport minister made it official to start construction for 550 Km Chuo Shinkansen Maglevtrain between defined routes Tokyo and Osaka. Japan Railway central was given this project in December 2008 followed by construction from April 1, 2014. This project was delayed and considered as poor due to bad business impact. The construction will implement 5.1. Trillion yen approximately $55 billion as per 2014 fiscal with their funds (“The Asahi Shimbun”, 2010).
Further, Tokyo and Nagoya will be connected in 40 minutes and Tokyo and Osaka in 67 minutes (“Chuo maglev project endorsed”, 2019). This rail track is estimated of 286 km long and build underground through tunnels with a radius of 8,000 m and 26,000 ft, grade 4% and a maximum speed of 505 km/hr (Smith, 2014). Lastly, this project will be launched in the year 2045 due to delay despite government speeding this process.
III. Discussion
Two projects are currently going on for high-speed rail in the countries India and Japan respectively. While Japan’s high-speed rail project is managed through company JR Central. The company operates from Nagoya Station, and headquarters are situated in JR Central Towers above this station. National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) was developed on 12th February 2016 to finance, construct, maintain and manage high-speed Rail corridor project. JR Central initiated the project in April 2014, and NHSRCL launched their project in July 2015.
Further, tentative completion for Japanese rail is 2045 and Indian railway is considered 2023. Both companies are working for high-speed rail, also known as the bullet train project. However, Japan’s has already developed a high fence due to their technology experience. Meanwhile, India is a developing country and require technology infrastructure to build such high-level rail. Another comparative difference between both companies are JR Central is funded by on their while, international construction companies fund NHSRCL. There a significant difference between both companies is their support from international construction businesses.
Japan could encourage other countries to invest in developing countries. Japanese railway technology is considered to be the most prominent example of innovation across the world. Hence, the step taken by them towards India’s bullet train project is quite remarkable.The developing countries also require change for economic and social growth. According to Japanese Ambassador Hiramatsu, during great east Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011, Shinkansen trains were not derailed. This proves that high-speed rail projects in developing countries are much required.
Further, Japan’s Foreign policies also encourage other countries in investments. For instance, investment in developing countries will lead to economic partnership agreements and free trade agreements. These agreements capture overseas market area and provide strength to the economy. Additionally, they offer several benefits for a country like Japan; for example, decrement of tariffs for goods and services. Additionally, making changes in trade barriers for the services, as well as trade and investment rulemaking. Therefore, Japan’s step towards helping India could encourage other countries in one way or another.
The high-speed rail projects could make a huge impact on GDP rates. Gross domestic product is the monetary value for goods and services developed and calculated as expenditures, production, and incomes. However, Japan’s GDP rate is already high because of being a developed country with excellent infrastructure. The industries in Japan are hugely benefited from High-Speed Rail projects. For example, firms and suppliers have a small distance of approximately 20 miles (Pinsker, 2019). Hence, companies could hire more suppliers, and with the help of fast train, products can be reached easily. This can be considered one of the reasons that overall GDP rate increase through bullet trains. However, this could impact other developing countries and their global growth in a negative way. The Mumbai Ahmadabad High-Speed Rail Corridor project will charge fare Rs 3,000 -5,000 which is non-affordable for many Indian citizens. The expenditure for a route of 500 kilometres in length could negatively impact the overall growth of India (Dhar, 2017). Therefore, the bullet train may offer jobs to the people. However, it could not affect economic growth fully. Besides, Japan’s per capita income is much more and hence; people could afford tickets from Maglev train projects.
However, such construction projects will impact on the social and economic growth of the country. The past approach for the launch of fast rail projects for japan was beneficial. However,the Chuo Shinkansen Maglev project has a cost of $47 billion that cannot be supported by any funds (Pinsker, 2017). As a result, the infrastructure of such a project could have a direct impact. Similarly, in the near future consumer in Japan could not afford the ticket due to the higher cost. Besides, India’s bullet train project’s future is cannot predict for the same. The railway infrastructure of 6,687 km extended colonial-era rail network has witnessed derailments and due to fewer safety standards (Dhar, 2017). Hence, the future of the bullet train does not seem to impress or bring any improvement shortly. Henceforth, it can be concluded that rail projects will impact the social and economic conditions of countries due to higher costs and crumbled Infrastructure shortly.
To understand project progress, it is important to assess the construction process and factors. To name a few, some of the factors which are considered in the speed rail projects are cost, duration, quality, productivity, health, safety, customer satisfaction, and environmental factors (Priyanga and Ambika, 2014).First, price is an essential factor that determines whether a project will be completed or not. The Bullet train project will be completed before the Maglev project due to construction rework. The Maglev project has been postponed due to rework and cost issues in Japan. Second, the duration factor determines how durable is the project of construction. The derailing incidents in India’s railway show that durability should be considered before developments. Third, the quality factor which is affected due to project size and complexity. The lack of workers and project complexity cannot produce good quality in developing countries. Fourth, client satisfaction is another critical aspect through which the construction process could impact negatively. Lastly, health, safety and environment are also considered essential, and they could affect society mostly.
The benefits of high-speed rail bullet train and Maglev project for both countries are similar. The positive impacts of project operations are less congestion in the rail traffic, better infrastructures services across new twelve stations, decreasing for soil pollution, less travel time, and employment opportunity for people who are living like locals. While, the negative impact of such projects considered as noise, vibration, the vibration of sound in weak community areas as well as cultural and social loss in the society for people. Henceforth, it is necessary to gather construction projects do have negative as positive impacts both equally.
Environmental impacts are also considered for both projects as per countries. Bullet train project found different ecological has implications for air, noise, water and soil. There will be exposure to land due to foundation works for the elevated bridge, cutting, embankment. Additionally, there are 12 stations for this rail project, and these air pollutants were gathered like PM2.5, SO2, NOx, and CO. Next, to take action against water pollution India’s standards are measured, for example, DO levels in 6 rivers, pH levels in 3 streams, and BOD levels in 5 rivers. Lastly, soil pollution is not considered due to being less impact factor. The noise standards in India is not discussed much more as rail construction machine could produce lower noises. Whereas, Maglev train project does not produce machinery noise due to being higher quality (Chao, Yun, andYunlu, 2013). Hence, the Maglev project is quite positive in terms of environmental aspect as compared to the bullet train project.
IV. Conclusion and Recommendation
To summarize, rail construction projects for both countries differ from each other. The only difference between them is operational cost, advance technology and other factors. Furthermore, the GDP rate for Japan is higher now and lower for India and thus must be considered. Additionally, such projects could affect the economy and society in some manner. Overall, Japan is considered to be encouraging to other developing countries. The developed countries will become investors for the project successfully. Besides, construction processes should weigh benefits and limitations for any project before being started.
References
Chuo maglev project endorsed. (2019). Retrieved 21 October 2019, from https://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/chuo-maglev-project-endorsed.html
Chao, W., Yun, C., &Yunlu, L. (2013). A Comparative Study of Maglev and High Speed Wheel-rail in the Perspective of Low-carbon Economy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON Advances In Information Sciences And Service Sciences, 5(11), 259-263. doi: 10.4156/aiss.vol5.issue11.31
Dhar, K. (2017). Is Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train really worth the cost?. Retrieved 21 October 2019, from https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/mumbai-ahmedabad-bullet-train-cost-japan-india/story/260280.html
India, Japan discuss possiblity to implement High Speed Railways system in India. (2014). Retrieved 21 October 2019, from https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/india-japan-discuss-possiblity-to-implement-high-speed-railways-system-in-india-114012500870_1.html
Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train to have 12 stations: Details here. (2019). Retrieved 21 October 2019, from https://www.livemint.com/news/india/mumbai-ahmedabad-bullet-train-to-have-12-stations-details-here-1568374312558.html
Parmar, V. (2019). Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train Project to be Completed by 2023, Land Acquisition to Cost Rs 17,000 Crore. Retrieved 21 October 2019, from https://www.news18.com/news/india/ahmedabad-mumbai-bullet-train-project-to-complete-by-2023-land-acquisition-to-cost-rs-17000-crore-2306783.html
Pinsker, J. (2019). What 50 Years of Bullet Trains Have Done for Japan. Retrieved 21 October 2019, from https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/10/what-50-years-of-bullet-trains-have-done-for-japan/381143/
Priyanga V., & Ambika, D. (2014). Study on Factors Influencing Construction Process Performance. International Journal Of Advanced Research In Civil,Structural,Environmental And Infrastructure Engineering And Developing, 2(2), 85-89.
Smith, K. (2014). JR Central starts construction on Chuo maglev – International Railway Journal. Retrieved 21 October 2019, from https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/jr-central-starts-construction-on-chuo-maglev/
The Asahi Shimbun. (2010). Retrieved 21 October 2019, from http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201004290320.html