India Rejects Ex-Japanese Minister’s Claims, Says Bullet Train Talks ‘At Considerable Variance With Facts’

India

oi-Ashish Rana

Published: Friday, July 17, 2026, 19:06 [IST]

India has rejected the allegations by former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara, who allegedly blamed India for delays in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) asserted that it his personal opinion and it has nothing to reflect as both nation’s discussions. MEA also said that the project of India’s first high-speed rail corridor based from the Japan’s Shinkansen technology is going good.

MEA Calls Remarks ‘At Variance With Facts’

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to Makhihara’s comments on the project and said,”We have seen the post. This is an individual opinion and is at considerable variance with facts. India-Japan discussions on Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR are progressing well.”

Interestingly, Makhihara, a member of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party had targeted India the way they are handling the project. He said, “The Shinkansen project in India is something I was involved with myself, but what stood out in international meetings and negotiations was the sheer recklessness of the Indian side, repeated over and over. They just don’t keep promises, no matter what. Even if they make a promise, they flip it right away.”

Bullet Train Project Continues

This Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project is a showcase India-Japan infrastructure partnership that aim to introduce the bullet train. The corridor is planned to reduce the time travel between Ahmedabad and Mumbai to improve regional connectivity.

Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has already announced that the project, connecting Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat is going to be operational from 15 August 2027. The other projects will start operating as soon the constructions of it will be completed.