Here’s How Railways Will Build a ₹3500 Crore Tunnel for the Bullet Train
Every step of the project has been taken forward only after repeated geotechnical and geophysical investigations.
For us Indians, trains zipping under the sea will no longer be limited to only sci-fi movies or foreign countries.
Almost seven kilometres of the track of an upcoming bullet train project connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad, will be located under the sea near Thane creek, giving travellers the first ever undersea rail experience in India at a speed of 350 km per hour!
As fantastic and impressive as it sounds, the work that is being undertaken to accomplish the ambitious project is nothing less than a gargantuan feat.
“About 7 km of the 21 km long tunnel will be undersea. We need to know the strata which are good enough for the tunnel to cross through,” Achal Khare, who is the Managing Director of National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited, told Zee News.
Every step of the project has been taken forward only after repeated geotechnical and geophysical investigations. The authorities rented special borehole digging equipment from a Japanese company, and have dug nearly 66 boreholes near the creek, with a distance of 250 metres between each borehole.
“The work here can be done only during high tides because the ground is very slushy. So, the working period is limited to only 4-5 hours. It is tough to control the boat along the Central Line which takes people to and fro, so the Japanese have trained one of us to control it,” Khare added.
You may also like: Fares, Timings & Speeds: All You Need to Know About the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Trains
The estimated cost of the tunnel is marked at ₹ 3,500 crores, while the entire train project is rounded up to be ₹ 1.1 lakh crores. A significant chunk of funding for the project is being loaned by the Japanese government with an investment of ₹88,000 crores at a minimal interest of 0.1 percent. This amount will have to be repaid over a period of 50 years.
The foundational stone of the bullet train project was laid together by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in September 2017. The authorities are hopeful that the sea tunnel will be completed by August 15, 2022.
Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: [email protected]
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!
Similar Story
India’s First Vertical Sea Bridge: 8 Things To Know About the New Pamban Bridge
As India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, the new Pamban Bridge, is set to reach completion by March next year, here’s some facts you should know about this technological marvel, which connect Rameswaram to mainland India.
Read more >
If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.
Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-
By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let's ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.
Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?
This story made me
-
97 -
121 -
89 -
167
Home
Read
Watch
Contribute
