INDIAN Railways is drafting legislation to be introduced into the winter session of the Indian parliament to set up the National High-Speed Rail Authority (NHSRA) which will be responsible for implementing and monitoring the country's high-speed rail projects. The NHSRA will have four full-time members responsible for planning, finance, engineering and project management. There will also be four part-time members to represent stakeholders.

 

Systra, France, has completed a feasibility study of the 650km Pune - Mumbai - Ahmedabad line, while similar studies are either underway or planned for five more high-speed lines. Mott McDonald, Britain, is studying the 991km Delhi - Agra - Lucknow - Varanasi - Patna line, while Eneco, Spain, is examining the feasibility of building the 135km Kolkata Howrah - Haldia line. Consultants will be chosen soon to conduct feasibility studies for the 450km Delhi - Amritsar, Hyderabad - Chennai, and Chennai - Bangalore - Ernakulum lines. India plans to build the lines as public-private partnerships.