The proposed underwater railway linking Dubai and Mumbai has received a lot of media attention, but its creator claims it is far from coming to life. According to Abdulla Al Shehhi, Managing Director of The National Advisor Bureau Limited (NABL), the project is still in a vague idea phase, as numerous reports—such as the ones Indian publications ran—have claimed otherwise.
The idea of a transnational underwater railway captured the attention of the masses ever since it was first proposed in 2018. Recently, Indian media has gone as far as fueling public discussions, which led to massive speculation, regarding the project. Still, Al Shehhi gently reminded the public that there was no official approval for the project which is still undergoing feasibility studies.
Al Shehhi told Khaleej Times “this is still in the early stages. We are looking at the feasibility and analyzing various factors that could influence the results.” Al Shehhi set the record straight by stating no funding conversations would take place until the clearance is given and that the timeline for approval is unpredictable.
Besides the proposed Dubai-Mumbai route, the project also plans to include other cities such as Karachi and Muscat, linking the Gulf and the subcontinent. If accomplished, the network would cover more than 1.5 billion people, including citizens from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other places. Al Shehhi believes the project could transform tourism within the area for the better, eliminating the need for long flights: “It will be easier for people to travel by train rather than by plane,” he stated.
In as much as the underwater railway is a marvel, it still appears to need more work. As further research is conducted and approvals are pending, only time will show the world if the project will materialize, connecting some of the globe’s fastest emerging economies in the most unprecedented manner.