The Chinese government has approved a project to build the first underwater bullet train route in the country, a source said. The line will connect Ningbo, a port city south of Shanghai, to Zhoushan, an archipelago off the east-coast. The proposed underwater tunnel will be a part of the 77-km Yong-Zhou Railway plan to boost tourism and create a two-hour-commute zone within Zhejiang province.

Japan's first driverless bullet train maglev, which is capable of clocking a speed of 500 km/hr while running 10 cm above the ground, was developed keeping in mind the country's domestic requirements and not in competition with China, its developer has said. Touted as the future of public transport across the globe, maglev will be unveiled in Japan by 2027.

Chinese Consul-General in Kolkata Ma Zhanwu said, "We are looking forward to bullet trains from Kolkata to Kunming. The whole Asia will be connected." Adding that it will only take a few hours to reach Kolkata from Kunming if the project becomes a reality, Zhanwu stated, "We may have a cluster of industries along the route."