NHSRCL invites bids for 24 train sets worth Rs 11,000-cr

The National High Speed Corporation (NHSRCL), the executing agency for India's first bullet train project, has initiated the bidding process for the procurement of 24 E5 Series Shinkansen train sets. The estimated investment for this venture amounts to Rs 11,000 crore. According to NHSRCL, only Japanese companies will be eligible for participation in the bidding process, as per the funding norms of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Hitachi Rail and Kawasaki Heavy Industries are among the few Japanese manufacturers of such trainsets.

The NHSRCL has issued an Invitation of Proposal (IFP) for the procurement, and interested companies must submit their bids by the end of October. Each Shinkansen train set will consist of 10 coaches, accommodating up to 690 passengers. The trainsets will be modified to suit Indian conditions, including extreme hot weather and prevalent dust.

The bullet train project in Gujarat is nearing completion, with 349 km out of the total 508 km falling within the state. As a result, the trains are expected to commence operations on this stretch within the targeted timelines, enabling the project's initial phase to be operationalized.