Title - Feasibility study for high speed rail between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to be completed by December 2013*

French state-owned railway company SNCF has plans to complete the study for the 450 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed link in December this year. This was announced by Philippe Lorand, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Major International Projects, SNCF. The study is conducted in three phases with €33.8 billion SNCF assistance. Systra and Arep subsidiaries of SNCF are conducting the study jointly with experts from Indian Railways.

After completion of the study the government will go ahead with project through its established High Speed Rail Authority of India (HSRA). A pre-feasibility study has been conducted. The most advanced Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor was chosen for the study as it had the maximum data available. SNCF is expected to take around 10 years for commission the project. The distance may range between 500 km to 1000 km. India has plans to construct 725 km new lines with an expenditure of Rs 6,872 crore in the current fiscal year, Lorand said. ****