Former Japanese Justice Minister Hideki Makihara accused India of “sheer recklessness” regarding delays in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project [1].
The public friction between a high-ranking former Japanese official and the Indian government highlights potential diplomatic tensions over one of the most ambitious infrastructure partnerships between the two nations.
Makihara, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party, said Indian officials failed to honor commitments, which he argued caused significant project delays [2]. His comments target the management of the bullet-train corridor, a project intended to connect the financial hubs of Mumbai and Ahmedabad through high-speed rail [2].
India's Ministry of External Affairs responded to the criticism by defending the timeline of the construction. A spokesperson for the ministry said India has been making steady progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project, and remains committed to its timely completion [1].
The dispute centers on contradicting accounts of the project's current status. While Makihara described the situation as reckless, the Indian government maintains that work is proceeding as scheduled [1, 2]. This disagreement marks a rare public clash over the technical and administrative execution of the rail corridor.
Despite the criticism from the former minister, the Ministry of External Affairs said the accusations are unfounded [1]. The project continues to be a centerpiece of the strategic and economic relationship between Tokyo and New Delhi.
““Sheer recklessness.””
The public nature of these accusations suggests a rift in how the two countries perceive project milestones and accountability. While the Indian government maintains the project is on track, the criticism from a former Japanese minister reflects internal Japanese frustrations over the speed of delivery for their exported Shinkansen technology in the Indian market.
