From K J M Varma , Beijing

The first batch of the 100 Indian Railway officials, who are to receive training in heavy-haul technology in China, has begun their 12-day coaching at the Jiaotong University here.

The inauguration ceremony for training in the heavy-haul technology for the 22 officers from the Indian Railway was held at Beijing Jiaotong University yesterday, an Indian Embassy press release issued here today said.

The 12-day training programme, which is being conducted by Beijing Jiaotong University under the supervision of National Railway Administration of China, is the first step in the cooperation envisaged by India and China in the?MoU and Implementation Plan on Cooperation in Railways.

The training involving 100 Indian officers will lay emphasis on onsite training covering operational and maintenance facilities, monitoring systems and traffic controls.

Four more batches from Indian railway officials will be trained at the Beijing Jiatong University in heavy-haul technology in the next two years, the press release said.

The training was part of the MoU signed during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India in September this year.

Under the MoU, China will do a free feasibility study for a high-speed train corridor. India has chosen the Delhi- Chennai route for this study.

India currently is considering two corridors for high- speed trains.

While Japan is conducting feasibility study for the Bullet train project in Mumbai-Ahemdabad corridor, China will do the same for the Delhi-Chennai route which is expected to begin by early next year.

If materialised, the Indian bullet train project is a major gain for China which is making an aggressive pitch to market its high speed train technology outside the country.

Besides the high-speed train, India and China have agreed to cooperate to identify the technical inputs required to increase speed on the existing railway line from Chennai to Mysore via Bangalore.

Under the September agreement, China will also cooperate in setting up a Railway University in India.

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