India's ambition to send a team deep into the sea in a submersible vehicle is likely to become a reality in 2021-22 with the Samudrayan project.
National Institute of Ocean Technology Director MA Atmanand told NDTV that the idea is to send a submersible vehicle with three people to a depth of about 6,000 metres, to carry out deep underwater studies.
He added:
Similar to ISRO's plan to carry persons on a space mission, NIOT has undertaken Samudrayaan. The Rs. 200-crore project proposes to carry three persons in a submersible vehicle to a depth of 6,000 metres under sea. Submarines go only about 200 metres.
According to reports, Samudrayan's success would help India join developed nations in the exploration of oceanic minerals. India has been allocated a site of 75,000 sq km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin by the International Sea Bed Authority for exploration of polymetallic nodules from seabed.
So let's hope the project is on schedule and we too join the big leagues soon.