Last year, when the news about India's first bullet train finally broke, the internet was both thrilled and fascinated. However, the project that seemed quite promising and hard-to-believe has finally begun.

INHABITAT

Passengers will get the thrill of riding under the sea while travelling between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in the first bullet train of the country.

(Also read: The World's Longest Bullet Train Track Is Ready For Operation In China)

The ambitious project has finally made its stride with the drilling of the proposed 7Km long undersea route of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor.

“Soil and rocks below the 70-metre-deep see are being tested as part of the geotechnical and geophysical investigation undertaken for the entire project. The test will also cover the 21-km-long underground tunnel between Thane and Virar,” said a senior Railway Ministry official.

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The geo-investigation that has started is crucial for the project since officer will now ascertain the bearing capacity of the soil below 70-feet at the sea.

(Also read: Bullet Train To Run Between Mumbai-Ahmedabad By 2023, Govt Signs Rs 77,000 Crore MoU)

The officials working on the project further added that all the passengers will get the thrill of riding under the sea, for the first time. The journey will commence at Thane, at a maximum speed of 350 km per hour.

Barring the 21-km-long tunnel, most part of the 508-km-long corridor is proposed to be on the elevated track, while there will be a stretch after Thane creek towards Virar.

COMPLEX

This will go under the sea as per the detailed project report by JICA, the funding agency of the project. While the tunnel was necessitated to protect the thick vegetation in that area, railways opted for an elevated corridor to avoid land acquisitions and the need to build underpasses.

(Also read: India's First Bullet Train Will Dive Under The Sea At Thane! A First!)

The cost of the project might escalate during the process because of the construction quality and import duties.

The survey is likely to be followed by the final location survey to mark the alignment and exact spots for the pillars on which trains will run at the higher speed to reduce the travelling time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad drastically.

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The entire project is estimated to cost about Rs1 lakh crore. The construction of the corridor is estimated to be completed by 2023.

(Also read: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Will Be Cheaper Than Taking A Flight, Says Rail Ministry)

Japan International Cooperation Agency has agreed to fund 81 percent of the total project cost through a 50-year loan at an interest rate of 0.1 percent.