UAE explores futuristic underwater tunnel to India

13 Feb 2021 Editorial Team

At a UAE-India conclave in Abu Dhabi, NAB said this line would facilitate the movement of people across the Arabian sea and feature pipelines for oil and water.

The speed of the trains to be operational would be 600 to 1,000 km per hour. The 1,826 km distance between Mumbai and Fujairah could be covered in less than four hours, while the distance between Fujairah and Gwadar port could be covered within an hour. Creating a vacuum inside the tunnel will allow for a high-speed rail system as a result of reduced air resistance.

The tunnel's concept is based on the Hyperloop technology. The Hyperloop is a proposed high-speed transportation system in which specialised pods are accelerated through a low-pressure tube to achieve speeds near the speed of sound. Earlier efforts at creating an under-sea hyperloop include Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (Marin) testing a model trans-Atlantic underwater tunnel between the United States and Europe capable of supporting hyperloop. The testing was done to check how the tunnel responds to wave action. This testing was to determine if the pods would be safe to travel under real oceanic conditions. The research concluded saying that this mode of transportation could be way less polluting that air travel and constant efforts are being made to bring this concept to life. Virgin Hyperloop also conducted trials, being the first to have a human passenger. The ride reached a speed of 150 km per hour but in a vacuum sealed tunnel, it is expected to reach a speed of 966 km per hour.

The floating underwater tunnel would consist of two curved concrete tubes, submerged below the surface of the Arabian Sea. The submerged tubes would be stabilised by being attached to pontoons on the surface of the sea or by vertical tethers to the seafloor.

Image: Two curved concrete tubes, submerged below the surface of the Arabian Sea

A provision would be made for enough gaps between the pontoons to allow ships to pass through. The tubes would be placed underwater, deep enough to avoid water traffic and weather. The tunnel would be watertight, resistant to seawater damage and able to withstand the hydrostatic forces acting on it.

NAB said that the project awaits a feasibility study as an underwater rail tunnel held by floating pillars can pose unique challenges, and several aspects of it need serious consideration.

Image: If realised, the tunnel would be another step in undersea hyperloop travel that has been a subject of much research in Europe and the United States.

Also read: Virgin Hyperloop hosts its first human ride

A proposed tunnel between the UAE and India could take rail travel to a whole new level, quite literally, if the National Advisor Bureau (NAB) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has its way. The NAB is exploring the possibility of a 2,000 km long underwater rail tunnel to connect Fujairah with Mumbai. At a UAE-India conclave in Abu Dhabi, NAB said this line would facilitate the movement of people across the Arabian sea and feature pipelines for oil and water. The speed of the trains to be operational would be 600 to 1,000 km per hour. The 1,826 km distance between Mumbai and Fujairah could be covered in less than four hours, while the distance between Fujairah and Gwadar port could be covered within an hour. Creating a vacuum inside the tunnel will allow for a high-speed rail system as a result of reduced air resistance. The tunnel's concept is based on the Hyperloop technology. The Hyperloop is a proposed high-speed transportation system in which specialised pods are accelerated through a low-pressure tube to achieve speeds near the speed of sound. Earlier efforts at creating an under-sea hyperloop include Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (Marin) testing a model trans-Atlantic underwater tunnel between the United States and Europe capable of supporting hyperloop. The testing was done to check how the tunnel responds to wave action. This testing was to determine if the pods would be safe to travel under real oceanic conditions. The research concluded saying that this mode of transportation could be way less polluting that air travel and constant efforts are being made to bring this concept to life. Virgin Hyperloop also conducted trials, being the first to have a human passenger. The ride reached a speed of 150 km per hour but in a vacuum sealed tunnel, it is expected to reach a speed of 966 km per hour. The floating underwater tunnel would consist of two curved concrete tubes, submerged below the surface of the Arabian Sea. The submerged tubes would be stabilised by being attached to pontoons on the surface of the sea or by vertical tethers to the seafloor. Image: Two curved concrete tubes, submerged below the surface of the Arabian SeaA provision would be made for enough gaps between the pontoons to allow ships to pass through. The tubes would be placed underwater, deep enough to avoid water traffic and weather. The tunnel would be watertight, resistant to seawater damage and able to withstand the hydrostatic forces acting on it. NAB said that the project awaits a feasibility study as an underwater rail tunnel held by floating pillars can pose unique challenges, and several aspects of it need serious consideration.Image: If realised, the tunnel would be another step in undersea hyperloop travel that has been a subject of much research in Europe and the United States. Also read: Virgin Hyperloop hosts its first human ride

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Mizoram To Build Rs 139 Billion Pumped Storage Power Plant

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday announced plans to construct a 2,400 MW pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in Hnahthial district, marking a major step towards achieving energy self-sufficiency in the state. Addressing the Mizo Students’ Union general conference in Hnahthial town, the Chief Minister said the plant would be developed across the Darzo Nallah, a tributary of the Tuipui river. Once operational, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in meeting Mizoram’s rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported power. Officials from the State Power..

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

Centre Plans Nationwide Opening Of Power Retail Market

India is preparing to open up its retail electricity market to private companies nationwide, effectively ending the long-standing monopoly of state-run power distributors in most regions, according to a draft bill released by the Union Power Ministry on Friday. The move will enable major private sector players — including Adani Enterprises, Tata Power, Torrent Power, and CESC — to expand their presence across the country’s electricity distribution landscape. A similar reform attempt in 2022 had faced strong opposition from state-run distribution companies (discoms), which currently dom..

Infrastructure Energy

14 Oct 2025

CEA Sets 100 GW Nuclear Target For India By 2047

In a landmark step marking its 52nd Foundation Day, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) unveiled an ambitious roadmap to develop 100 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity by 2047, aligning with India’s long-term Net-Zero commitment and energy security objectives. The event, held at the Central Water Commission auditorium in New Delhi’s R.K. Puram, was attended by Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Power, who served as the Chief Guest. The roadmap sets out a detailed plan to expand India’s nuclear capacity from its current level of approximately 8,180 MW as of early 2025, outl..