According to National Advisor Bureau Limited (NABL) the project is an underwater train tunnel, that is planned to connect the UAE and the other GCC countries for the first time in India. The project will consist of a subsea Tunnel and an Ultra Speed subsea railway line. The Concept of the Tunnel is based on well-known technology applied to floating bridges and offshore structures & immersed tunnels.
Specifically, the Fujairah-Mumbai Tunnel & Subsea Ultra Speed Train Line Project is currently at the concept stage.
According to NABL, the advantages the project provides are:
- Transmitting of passengers, tourists and workers between the UAE and India;
- Exporting oil and gas From Fujairah Port To India through a pipeline and possibly China and Pakistan;
- Importing water from Narmada River North of Mumbai to the UAE;
- Transporting goods and commodities between both nations;
- Supplying bunker fuel to ships passing between the Floating Pontoons via a floating bunker fuel station.
Moreover, a future expansion of the project might include the One Belt One Road Initiative, linking China to Pakistan economic corridor at Gwadar Port with UAE, through the Fujairah port to complement the Chinese silk road.
Also, Karachi in Pakistan and Muscat, the capital city in Oman, are also included in the future plans of train stations.
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In addition, another future plan focuses on constructing a road within the floating tunnel for cars and truck transportation, as well as Floating Hotel and shopping centres and Fuel stations in the middle of the Arabian Sea were commuters can rest and shop.
The speed of train can be set to be on the range of 600-1000 km/h. The distance between Mumbai to Fujairah station can be covered within 2-4 hrsm, whereas Gawader port in Pakistan to Fujairah can be covered within 1 Hr.
The floating underwater tunnel might be embodied by two curved concrete tubes, submerged below the surface of the Arabian Sea.
In order to stabilize both tubes, they will be attached to pontoons on the surface of the sea. The tubes would be placed underwater, deep enough to avoid water traffic and weather.
Finally, the tunnel would be a water tight and resisting the salty sea water , it should be withstand against hydrostatic forces coming on it. Creating a vacuum inside the tunnel will results in tremendous speed for trains as it will result in minimal air resistance.
