Minister's Briefing on Hokuriku Shinkansen Route Estimates

The discussion concerns the development of the Tsuruga–Shin-Osaka section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Route selection is being pursued by the ruling parties' development committee, and the reporter questioned why the cost-effectiveness of the Obama route had reversed against the Maibara route, whose construction cost had previously been lower, to become the highest.

The reporter asked whether the figures had been manipulated by inflating the benefits or whether there had been arbitrary steering toward a route from which construction companies could profit. The minister regarded this view as a leap in reasoning.

The reporter pointed out that the estimates could create an unfavorable impression of the administration and risk compounding a decline in its approval rating.

The verification results for the eight route proposals submitted by the Japan Innovation Party are scheduled to be presented to the Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsuruga–Shin-Osaka Development Committee based on instructions from the ruling parties. The minister refrained from commenting on the contents and related matters.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, together with the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency, says it will cooperate sincerely and carefully with the ruling parties' route decision during the current Diet session and proceed carefully and steadily with development toward opening the entire line as soon as possible.

The minister said he had been told there was absolutely no such fact as alleged and explained that the figures had been appropriately calculated based on data. He said it was impossible that they had been deliberately falsified and that discussions within the ruling parties would proceed on the basis of these figures.