Bullet Train Project: Indian workforce to be trained with Japanese technology

New Delhi: National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Japan Railway Technical Service (JARTS) for training and certification and advisory services for the construction of track works for Mumbai Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor (Under Package No. MAHSR-T-1, T-2 and T-3).

The track packages for the MAHSR project are now opened for participation by Indian Contractors with the stipulation that the contractor's workforce would undergo specialised technical training related to Shinkansen track technology, before the start of work at the site. The slab track system used for Shinkansen – high-speed rail in Japan, is highly specialised and requires the use of special machines. A similar system will be adopted for the MAHSR project.

As per the MoU, JARTS will provide training & certification (T&C) services (prior to the start of works) and advisory services (during first execution). The services include preparation of training materials, classroom training and onsite training. The Track contractors will be required to execute a separate service agreement with JARTS. The terms & conditions for the service agreement has already been finalized and are part of the MoU.

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More than 1,000 personals are envisaged to be trained and certified. Most part of the training will be done in India, for which a separate temporary training facility will be developed at Surat. As 'Enclosed Arc' (EA) welding for rail welding is presently not done in India, about 60 days of training for EA welding is envisaged in Japan. In addition, depending on the situation of COVID-19, onsite training at Japan may also be planned for some engineers.

This initiative will help in 'Transfer of Technology' and also upgrade the skill sets of Indian track engineers. This is also a step towards making India self-reliant in the field of construction of tracks for high-speed rail.

NHSRCL's Managing Director Achal Khare, Director (Project) Rajendra Prasad, Director (Finance) AK Bijalwan, Minister Embassy of Japan in India Shingo Miyamoto, Chief Representative (JICA India) Katsuo Matsumoto, President JARTS KONO Haruhiko, and other officials from JARTS, JICC, JR East attended the virtual ceremony.

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