Stealing the Blueprint from Japan: India’s New High-Speed Train Sparks Indigenous Protests
The first fully Indian-designed semi-high-speed train has officially made its debut, symbolizing Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” initiative. Yet protests continue along the railway line between Gujarat and Maharashtra, as farmers and tribal communities claim they have been subjected to forced land acquisition with inadequate compensation.
New Delhi (Asia News) – India is accelerating its railway modernization drive, focusing on developing semi-high-speed trains entirely “Made in India.” Behind this new emblem of industrial nationalism championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, protests persist among tribal communities and displaced farmers along the rail corridor stretching across Gujarat and Maharashtra.
This week, Indian Railways unveiled the design of the country’s first fully indigenous semi-high-speed train, expected to enter service by 2027. The project stands as a flagship initiative under the “Make in India” program, aiming to strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign technology.
The new route will connect Ahmedabad in western Gujarat to Dholera, aiming to improve domestic connectivity and provide convenience for residents of over 200 villages in the region. According to government estimates, the project will also help reduce approximately 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and lower oil imports.
The new line will partially utilize the already constructed Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor. MAHSR is India’s first true high-speed rail line, employing Japan’s Shinkansen technology and funded by a bilateral loan of around €15 billion from Tokyo. The Maharashtra High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) is expected to launch in 2027, linking India’s two major economic hubs—Ahmedabad and Mumbai—passing through Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
The project was jointly launched in 2017 by then-Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, hailed as a turning point in India’s railway modernization efforts aimed at addressing long-standing issues of delays and outdated infrastructure. However, from the outset, construction of this rail corridor faced strong criticism from environmental organizations, civil rights groups, and local communities.
Deep-seated social tensions remain unresolved behind the railway modernization push. Official data shows that the route requires acquiring about 1,400 hectares of land, affecting at least 73 rural areas. Many families still complain about insufficient or non-existent compensation, while the Ministry of Infrastructure continues to assert that the land acquisition process has been “transparent and fair.”
Yet landowners and local activists highlight cases of forced evictions and consultations conducted without genuine consent from affected communities. These allegations center on the failure to implement regulations requiring prior approval from local councils, especially in tribal regions.
The most impacted area is Palghar district in Maharashtra, where Adiwasis (India’s indigenous tribes) make up around 37% of the population. In certain regions, Adiwasis are protected under Schedule V of the Indian Constitution, which recognizes forms of local self-governance and provides specific safeguards for traditional land rights. Despite this, development projects continue to be approved: currently, 15 distinct development projects are underway in Palghar alone.
Disputes intensified during the 2020 pandemic lockdown, when environmentalists and local groups accused the central government, as well as those of Gujarat and Maharashtra, of exploiting movement restrictions and public protest limitations to advance land acquisition.
Local residents report being informed of land acquisition within short notice periods, leaving little opportunity to raise objections. Although calls emerged to pause the project and review consultation procedures, the government announced in 2024 that land acquisition for the rail line had been successfully completed.
The government introduced Japanese technology into the Mumbai-Ahmedabad project; now it aims to position this new national high-speed rail as proof of India’s maturity in industrial capability and its ability to independently develop advanced infrastructure.
Yet, protests from local communities and environmental organizations continue along the future high-speed rail corridors, accusing Delhi of sacrificing land and rights in the name of development.
Source: Asia News
Author: Maria Casadei
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866121519437832/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author