Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki has approved the start of construction on the Shizuoka section of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, which is being developed by Central Japan Railway Company. The Shizuoka section is the biggest challenge on the Tokyo Shinagawa to Nagoya route, and even if construction begins within the year, the opening is expected to be pushed back to 2036 or later. Due to soaring prices and the difficulty of the construction, the total project cost was revised from the initial 5.5 trillion yen to 11 trillion yen as of last October. Central Japan Railway Company President Shunsuke Niwa stated, 'We will proceed with preparations so that we can start work as soon as possible,' but the business environment is becoming increasingly severe due to labor shortages and rising interest rates, leaving concerns about further cost overruns and construction delays.
Central Japan Railway CompanyProject cost doubled to 11 trillion yen, with labor shortages and rising interest rates causing further concerns.