This is quite spectacular! Passengers who board the country’s first bullet train connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad will get to see the flora and fauna in the sea during the 508 kilometre long journey through the corridor.
According to the railway ministry, a 21 kilometre long tunnel under the sea will also be a part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor.
As per the detailed project report (DPR) of the country’s most ambitious project, the tunnel will be included in the corridor after the Thane creek towards Virar. According to the DPR, collated by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), most part of the corridor is proposed to be on the elevated track.
The total expense estimated for the project is close to Rs 97 lakh crores and 81 per cent of the funds would be loaned from Japan. The project cost includes possible cost escalation, interest during construction and import duties.
“It is a soft loan for 50 years at 0.1 per cent annual interest with 15 years’ moratorium,” the Times of India quoted an official from the Union Railway Ministry.
The official added that the loan agreement with Japan is slated to be signed by the end of the year and the construction work is likely to begin by the end of 2018.
According top priority to the first of its kind project, railways formed the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) and bought a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with a paid-up capital of Rs 500 crores.
The bullet train is expected to cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in about two hours, running at a maximum speed of 350 kmph and operating speed of 320 kmph. That means, the train from Mumbai will take its passenger to Ahmedabad in just 1.5 hours’ time!
