Want to work on the bullet train in India? NHSRCL says proficiency in Japanese is 'desirable'

If you have an engineering degree, 11 years’ of work experience and know the basics of the Japanese language, here is your golden chance to work with the prestigious National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the implementing agency of Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.

The NHSRCL on Tuesday invited application for 13 middle-level management positions in various disciplines such as station operations, train operations, rolling stock, signalling and telecommunication, electrical and track etc.

"The selected candidates will be 'operations and maintenance (O&M) leaders' who will further be responsible for setting up the operations and maintenance organisation of Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor (MAHSR) and its processes and workflows," NHSRCL said, adding that the selected candidates will be imparted training in Japan to understand the Shinkansen Systems operation.

There are two vacancies each for Deputy General Manager (Civil), Deputy General Manager (Track), Deputy General Manager (Electrical), Deputy General Manager (S&T), Deputy General Manager (Rolling Stock), Deputy General Manager (Train Operations) and one for Deputy General Manager (Station Operations).

Further, the company is planning to recruit 28 drivers for bullet train operations in the current financial year, "Subsequently by next year, 30 more executives shall be inducted to augment the O&M organisation and support the aforementioned O&M leaders."

"These personnel will be trained at High-Speed Railway Training Institute at Vadodara by instructors who will be initially trained in Japan. Besides being responsible for O&M organisation, the O&M leaders, duly supported by their teams, shall also be responsible for preparing the training material, operation manual and all other works related to operations and maintenance organisation," it added.

The High-Speed Railway Training Institute at Vadodara will be established with an investment of Rs 600 crore. It will come up on five hectares of land inside the National Academy of Indian Railways (NAIR).

The training centre will have a sample track fitted with the overhead electrical systems to enable testing of bullet trains that will run on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. The centre is expected to become operational by December 2020.

As per the estimation by Japanese experts, the project requires around 4,000 personnel under several categories such as locomotive drivers, guards, station staff, operation control centre staff, maintenance personnel, signal maintainers and electrical staff.

The candidates selected for the said positions will have to execute a surety bond for the cost of training and applicable service tax to serve the corporation for a minimum of five years. They also have to serve a notice period of three months if they decide to leave the corporation.

The 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project was launched in Ahmedabad in 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and is estimated to cost Rs 1,10,000 crore on completion.

Out of the Rs 1,10,000 crore, Japan is giving a loan of Rs 88,000 crore. The interest on this loan is minimal at 0.1 percent and it is to be repaid in 50 years, with a grace period of 15 years.

The bullet train will run at a speed of 320-350 kmph between Mumbai and Ahmedabad and will stop at 10 stations -- Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand and Sabarmati.

To commemorate the 75th year of India's Independence, the government is planning to start the bullet train on August 15, 2022, a year ahead of schedule.