NEW DELHI (TIP): India and Japan have signed MoU to undertake a joint feasibility study of High Speed Railway system on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. This is in pursuance of the Joint Statement between the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, dated May 29, 2013, which provided that the two sides will co-finance a joint feasibility study of this High Speed route. The MOU was signed by Katsuo MATSUMOTO, Director South Asia Division JICA from the Japanese side and Mr Girish Pillai , Adviser Infrastructure, Ministry of Railways from the Indian side on 7th October, 2013. The objective of the Joint study is to prepare a feasibility report of High Speed Railway system on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route with speed of 300-350kmph. The cost of the study will be shared 50:50 between India and Japan. The study shall be completedwithin18 months from its commencement. The study will do traffic forecasting, alignment surveys and undertake comparative Study of High Speed Railway Technology and System. A Joint Monitoring Committee shall also be established comprising of the Ministry of Railways, Planning Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of External Affairs for the Indian side and the MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industries), the MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism), the MOF (Ministry of Finance), EoJ (Embassy of Japan in India) and JICA for the Japanese side.