India's high-speed rail project could be derailed by protests

It faces political opposition and challenges in acquiring land from farmers, tribal groups

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe with a shinkansen train in Kobe, Japan, in this 2016 picture. India's high-speed rail project is developed with the Japanese.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe with a shinkansen train in Kobe, Japan, in this 2016 picture. India's high-speed rail project is developed with the Japanese. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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India's first high-speed rail project, developed in collaboration with the Japanese, would cut travel time between the cities of Mumbai and Ahmedabad by five hours.

But the government's ambition of completing a showpiece infrastructure project could be derailed by protests from some farmers and tribal communities whose lands are to be acquired, compounded by political opposition.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 09, 2020, with the headline India's high-speed rail project could be derailed by protests. Subscribe