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Future travelers from Mumbai to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will need to pick their mode of transportation instead of just an airline if an ambitious project to connect the city of Fujairah and Mumbai by underwater train service materializes. The UAE's National Advisor Bureau Limited has begun considering such a project and will soon seek a feasibility report, UNILAD reported.
The UAE is well known for its ambitious projects, such as the tallest skyscraper in the world and the iconic Palm Islands built off the coast of the city of Dubai. However, for the next ambitious project, it is willing to cross the Arabian Sea and connect the financial capital of India, Mumbai, with its port city of Fujairah.
The plan first came to light in 2018 but is now being actively pursued as Dubai looks to stamp its authority on impressive constructions again, with Saudi Arabia also aiming for a piece of the pie.
The travel time to Dubai is slightly over three hours by air and does not include the pre-flying formalities at the airport. By switching to a train, UAE hopes to shave off at least one hour of travel time, and the train can travel at speeds as high as 600 miles (1,000 km) an hour.
However, the project is not meant to serve only passengers who are averse to taking the air routes. Instead, Dubai is looking at it as a means to expand bilateral trade with India. Fujairah's port city will export oil to India while bringing fresh water from the Narmada River to the UAE.
The distance between the two destinations is less than 1,240 miles (2,000 km), but construction in deep water is a big challenge. Initial reports also suggest that instead of lining the tunnel with opaque bricks, the project could use see-through windows to offer picturesque views of the sea and underwater life.
Details of the type of trains to be used and construction to be undertaken will be explored through a feasibility report but undoubtedly also require a lot of investment, running into a few billion dollars, if not more.
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One thing is for sure: it will not be the money that will be the primary concern on whether the project takes shape. The technical feasibility of constructing underwater is the foremost hurdle that has been overcome before for the Channel Tunnel, connecting England and France.
The difference is that the Channel Tunnel is merely 35 miles (56 km) long, and the train runs at a relatively slower speed of 70 miles (112 km) per hour while traveling through it.
Dubai's plans, in comparison, are highly ambitious as it looks to build a project over 50 times larger and run a train around ten times faster. But that's the risk the country is willing to stay on top of the game where Saudi Arabia is looking to compete with its plans of a linear city and creating artificial waterfronts to adorn a city under construction.