The ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project will be an engineering marvel of sort since a part of the stretch will run under the sea. The 508-km-long route of the first bullet train will have a 21-km long tunnel under the sea after Thane creek towards Virar adjoining Mumbai.
Several countries, including Japan and China have express trains which run underwater, particularly sea. As per the detailed project report by Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), most part of the corridor proposed will be on the elevated track. The train is expected to cover 508-km
route in about two hours, running at a maximum speed of 350 kmph and an operating speed of 320 kmph.
For timely completion of the project, a joint committee has been formed under the vice-chairman of NITI Aayog with the secretaries of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Departments of Economic Affairs and Foreign Ministry as its members along with the Railway Board Chairman. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has asked all the stakeholders to begin the civil construction works next year and should be completed in six years time.
Estimated cost is about Rs 97,636 crore, 81 per cent of the funding for the project will come by way of a loan 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, said the official.
In a meeting held early this week, the railways has formed National High Speed Rail Corporation limited (NHSRCl), a special purpose vehicle (SPV), to go ahead with the project with a paid-up capital of Rs 500 crore.
A search committee comprising senior Government officials, including Cabinet Secretary, Chairman Railway Board and Secretary DoPT among others is on the job currently to select the Managing Director and five directors for the NHSRCl. Railways have already allotted Rs 200 crore for the SPV. Maharashtra and Gujarat will have equity of 25 per cent each, while the Railways will have 50 per cent in the SPV.
Meanwhile, report by JICA has suggested running of 70 trains per day in the first year to cater to traffic volumes of 12 million is part of its operational plan. On the other hand, a recent IIM Ahemdabad study, which has supported Bullet Train Project, said that Bullet Train will require 100 trips per day to cater to traffic of 43 million. However, a railway expert on Wednesday said that the IIM Report about the traffic volumes are significantly higher than what has been assessed in the latest JICA feasibility study. The earlier RITES/Systra Study estimated 12 million in the first year.