Bullet train project chief Satish Agnihotri sacked over corruption

New Delhi, July 8

Rajendra Prasad assumed the charge of the Managing Director, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), today after the Railway Ministry terminated the services of his predecessor Satish Agnihotri, who was the in charge of the government’s prestigious Bullet Train project, on Thursday over corruption charges.

Prasad remains director, projects, NHSRCL.

Agnihotri was fired following a June 2 Lokpal court order directing the CBI to probe charges of a “quid pro quo” deal allegedly struck by him with a private company during his nine-year tenure as the chairman and managing of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

Prasad is the overall in charge of civil engineering works of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project, popularly known as the bullet train project. The order by the ministry, while terminating the services of Agnihotri, stated that Prasad would be MD for a period of three months “or until further orders, whichever is earlier”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated today, had laid the foundation stone of the project in Ahmedabad in 2017. Initially, the target set for the completion of the project was 2022. But according to the latest estimate, the proposed bullet train, which will cover a distance of 500 km between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in two hours, may become a reality only by 2027.

The main hurdle the project is facing relates to land acquisition issues in Maharashtra. However, while participating in a CII event in Mumbai today, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari of resolving all issues soon.

“The bullet train is a dream project of PM Narendra Modi. For certain reasons, Maharashtra remained behind while Gujarat worked swiftly for the project. We have decided to catch up (with Gujarat) because it is not just the bullet train but the beginning of a new phase of transportation,” a Road Transport and Highways Ministry press communique quoted Fadnavis as having said at the event.

After Lokpal order

Satish Agnihotri was fired following a June 2 Lokpal court order directing the CBI to probe charges of a “quid pro quo” deal allegedly struck by him with a private company during his nine-year tenure as the chairman of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited