Ex-Japan Minister Blames India 100% for Bullet Train Delay on July 18

A former Japanese justice minister ignited a diplomatic row on July 18 by blaming India entirely for delays in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, a 508-kilometer project Japan is funding 81% and providing shinkansen technology for. Hideki Makihara, who served as vice minister for economy, trade and industry, posted on X that India’s “sheer chaos” and failure to keep promises have stalled progress. India’s external affairs ministry rejected the accusation the same day, calling it an individual opinion at variance with facts.

What Makihara said about the project

Makihara posted on X that India does not keep promises and constantly flips its positions. He wrote: “For the honour of all the Japanese folks who poured their hearts into this, I have to say it: I feel 100 per cent that the reason this hasn’t moved forward is entirely on the Indian side.” His post referenced an opinion article by Japanese railway engineer Isao Tsujimura, who claimed India had sidelined Japan by choosing European signalling equipment instead of Japan’s DS-ATC technology.

India’s response and timeline

India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected Makihara’s remarks on July 17 as “an individual opinion and at considerable variance with facts.” Jaiswal said discussions between India and Japan are “progressing well” and construction has “rapidly progressed.” The first section of the 508-kilometer corridor will open in 2027, with both sides agreeing to use Indian-made high-speed trains initially. Japan will provide its E10 series trains only in the early 2030s because they are still under development.

The project’s original terms and cost

When India and Japan signed the agreement in 2015, the project was to be completed in seven years at an estimated cost of 976.3 billion rupees, approximately $10.1 billion. Japan agreed to provide 81% of funding and shinkansen technology. The corridor links Mumbai, India’s financial hub, with Ahmedabad in Gujarat state. Land acquisition delays have been cited as a reason for the project’s slow progress.

The signalling equipment dispute

Jaiswal clarified that signalling equipment has been ordered in line with international specifications and that no Japanese offer was received for this component. Makihara’s post suggested India had violated the 2015 agreement by choosing European equipment instead of Japan’s system. Jaiswal emphasized that project execution remains aligned with the shared goal of starting high-speed rail operations at the earliest possible date.

Final Thoughts

The row highlights tensions over India’s approach to the flagship bullet train project. With the first section set to open in 2027 using Indian trains, both governments claim progress despite Makihara’s public criticism of India’s commitment to the partnership.

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