India comes up with the first undersea high speed train

The construction of the first undersea rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in western India is expected to start in 2018.

According to Economic Times, the test drill of the first bullet train has begun to ascertain soil condition. "Soil and rocks below the 70-meter-deep see are being tested as part of the geo-technical and geo-physical investigation undertaken for the entire project," a senior Railway Ministry official reportedly said.

As it takes currently 7 hours to travel between the Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the undersea corridor of 21 km of which 7 km will be underwater will allow the bullet train running 320 km/h to reduce the time from seven to two hours.

The total cost amounted nearly Rs 97,637 crore ($ 14.6 billion) for which 81% will come by way of a loan from Japan. The project cost includes possible cost escalation, interest during construction and import duties.

The completion of the undersea corridor is expected by 2023.