Former Japanese Minister Slams India Over Bullet Train Project Delays, Calls Approach 'Careless'
TOKYO / NEW DELHI — In a dramatic twist surrounding India’s flagship High-Speed Rail initiative, former Japanese Minister Hideki Makihara has leveled severe accusations against Indian authorities, citing gross negligence, broken promises, and significant project delays.
Makihara, who was closely associated with the Shinkansen high-speed rail technology transfer, expressed sharp criticism regarding India’s handling of international negotiations and strategic decisions.
"I was personally involved with the Shinkansen project in India. What bothered me the most during international meetings and negotiations was the repeated, gross negligence shown by the Indian side," Makihara stated.
Key Points of Contention
The fallout stems from major policy shifts by India regarding technology, procurement, and signaling systems:
Signaling Systems: India has opted to source European signaling technology rather than adopting Japan’s proprietary Shinkansen signaling system.
Trainset Manufacturing: Rather than importing complete Japanese trainsets, India has decided to manufacture the high-speed trainsets domestically under its Make in India vision.
Technology Transfer: Tensions have flared over the terms and scope of technical knowledge transfer between the two nations.
A Strain on Strategic Ties?
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, heavily funded through soft loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has long been celebrated as a symbol of deepening India-Japan strategic partnership. However, India's pivot toward European alternatives for critical components and its push for local manufacturing have raised eyebrows in Tokyo.
While Indian officials maintain that domestic production and modern interoperability align with long-term national interest and cost efficiency, Japanese counterparts view these sudden shifts as a breach of trust and a key reason for the project's extended timelines.
Neither India's Ministry of Railways nor the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has issued an official counter-statement regarding the minister's remarks yet.
