Beijing, September 24

A consortium led by a state-owned Chinese firm has won a bid for a feasibility study into a high-speed rail link between India’s political and financial capitals New Delhi and Mumbai, the company’s parent said, in what could lead to a major deal between the Asian rivals.

China Railway, a spinoff from the former railway ministry, said the line will be around 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) long but provided few other details.

China has hugely expanded its own high-speed rail network in recent years, and it is now the largest in the world with around 17,000 kilometres of track in service, according to China Railway.

Beijing has been actively promoting the technology abroad — often with lower bidding prices and favourable loan conditions — in a bid to capitalise on the lucrative international market and upgrade the ‘Made in China’ brand.

China Railway said on Wednesday the consortium, which also includes Indian companies, won the bid to carry out the study, saying the Indian award ‘fully reflected the approval of China’s high-speed rail technology by the international society and the international fast rail market’.

India has also solicited bids for feasibility studies on lines between Mumbai and the southern city of Chennai, and linking New Delhi and Kolkata, the company added.