India is preparing to introduce a high-speed bullet train that will significantly cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, including a notable section that will run underwater between Thane and Virar.
Officials are moving forward with early preparations for what could become the country’s first high-speed rail line — infrastructure designed to shorten a current seven-hour trip to roughly two hours.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency has agreed to finance about 80 percent of the estimated $14.5 billion cost through a long-term loan. Indian Railways, along with the state governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat, will cover the remaining expenses, with Indian Railways contributing an estimated $1.5 billion.
A senior Railway Ministry official said, “Soil and rock formations down to depths of 70 meters are being examined as part of the geotechnical and geophysical investigations conducted for the entire project. This testing will include the 21-kilometer underground tunnel planned between Thane and Virar.”
Currently in its development phase, the project was scheduled to move into construction in 2018. Comprehensive soil testing is underway ahead of tunneling work on the underwater section of the route. Once completed — with an initial target around 2023 — the line is expected to carry passengers at speeds near 217 mph, dramatically improving connectivity for residents and visitors.
For India, this initiative marks a major advancement in modernizing rail infrastructure, promising faster, more reliable travel and positioning the country to host a globally competitive high-speed rail corridor.