Page 36 - Construction Vision Sep-Oct 2017 issue

INDIA`S FIRST UNDERSEA HIGH-SPPED RAIL TUNNEL

ON THE HORIZON

Mumbai,one of the destinations for India`s proposed underwater tunnel- featuring high-speed rail line

ndia is no stranger to megaprojects. Its 508 kilometres, cutting journey times from
infrastructure development has taken a financial centre Mumbai with Ahmedabad down
Imore futuristic bent as test drilling for the to just two hours. Currently, the journey takes
nation's first undersea high-speed rail tunnel is closer to seven hours.
underway. Japan is fronting the cash for this particular
megaproject, highlighting India's
internationally-minded collaborative approach
It is a project that sums up India's growing
towards updating its infrastructure. The Japan
confidence in huge construction works. The
Financial Cooperation agency is financing 81%
proposed tunnel, once completed, with run for
of the line and its underwater tunnel. Total
seven kilometres on a new high-speed line
costs? $14.6 billion.
linking major cities Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Contractors are testing ground conditions 70
metres below the Arabian Sea near Thane, Although the tunnel has the potential to be a
Maharashtra to see if the proposed tunnel is first for India, it will not be Asia's first. The
feasible. longest undersea rail tunnel in the world can be
found in Japan, appropriately enough. The
"Soil and rocks below the 70-metre-deep see
Seikan Tunnel links the main Japanese island
are being tested as part of the geo-technical
of Honshu with northern Hokkaido, under the
and geo-physical investigation undertaken for
Tsugaru Strait, clocking in at 53.85 kilometres
the entire project," a senior Railway Ministry
in length.
official told The Economic Times, adding "the
test will also cover the 21-km-long While expensive, and ambitious, India has
underground tunnel between Thane and Virar." clearly set out mass-construction agenda it

intends to follow until at least 2020 – and likely
This is one of several high-speed railways beyond.
India is planning. In total, the line will run for

34 CONSTRUCTION VISION SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER