NEW GATEWAY OF THE MIDDLE EAST

"AL-KHUSHI"
CROSS-SEA BRIDGE OR UNDERSEA TUNNEL
"CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SOUTH ASIA & THE MIDDLE EAST "

Bullet Train, Japan

Travel around the world is an old passion, the golden civilisation of Arabs, Chinese, Hindus, Persians & Himalayans had inked great stories of trade, travel, tradition, culture & hospitality. The people from the South Asia & the Middle East use to travel to each other by ships or by road through a long route from Iran, Kuwait to main Arabian Peninsula & vice versa, now, in this modern era, means of transportation and route are dramatically changed, for example, United Kingdom, once apart from main land of Europe for ages, but now connected by undersea tunnel called “Channel Tunnel”. Moreover, high speed train like Bullet Train & Maglev (with the speed of 581 km/h, can compete aeroplane), made it possible to travel far / long distances in minutes. So it is now the time to link the world oldest civilisations or two gigantic landmasses by “Bridge or Undersea Tunnel”, which is never done before. The details of the proposed project, is as under:

To connect the South Asia to the Middle East, in order, to reduce the travelling distance, time & cost as compare to present day, as well as, easily mass transaction of goods & people across the sea, there exists a dire need of a Cross-sea Bridge or Undersea Tunnel, which will increase the import & export activities from both the sides as well as to boost growth, prosperity & development immensely in the Countries located nearby. In this regard a complete feasibility report has been carried out, as to see the possibility of this “History Turning Point”.

At first, a name “Al-Khushi” is given to the proposed Cross-sea Bridge or Undersea Tunnel. The etymology of word “Al-Khushi” is also unique as the project itself. The word is derived from Arabic, (a language of the Middle East) and Urdu (Language of the South Asian Countries, such as India, Pakistan & Nepal), languages. “Al” is taken from Arabic, means “The” and “Khushi” is taken from Urdu means “Happiness & Cheerfulness”, collectively, it is, “The Happiness”, means “Welcome the happiness & prosperity from both sides i.e. The Middle East & The South Asia”, as well as, a symbol of “Friendship” between two gigantic landmasses, as to create the atmosphere of fair trade wind. There are three ways to connect these two landmasses across the sea:

Types of Tunnels

a.      By Cross-sea Bridge

b.      By Undersea Tunnel  

  i.   Submerged Floating  

   Tunnel ( No. 2 in Picture)

  ii.  Immersed Tube Tunnel

             ( No. 3 in Picture)

           iii.  Undersea (beneath 

             Seabed) Tunnel

             ( No. 4 in Picture)

         c.      By Bridge-Tunnel (is the combination of Bridge & any type of tunnel, the tunnel usually located at chokepoint (The busiest sea route) / central point, allowing smooth functioning of ships as well as nearby air traffic, the fine example of the same is “Oresund Bridge” between Denmark & Sweden). 

Oresund Bridge, Sweden Side

Oresund Bridge, Denmark Side

To connect these landmasses, the Gulf of Oman & Strait of Hormuz along-with its boundaries has been investigated deeply & carefully from all the relevant aspects. Accordingly, following three nearest plans / points have been found suitable to connect the South Asia to the Middle East:   
    Plan-A:  Jiwani, Pakistan to Muscat, Oman
    Plan-B:  Point between Bala Boland & Berizak, Iran to Limah, Oman
    Plan-C:  Khammasi Island, Iran to Khasab, Oman

Jiwani, Pakistan to Muscat, Oman, (353 Km distance)

Point between Bala Boland & Berizak, Iran to Limah, Oman (75km)

Khammasi Island, Iran to Point Near Khasab, Oman (55km)

The Plan-A, will connect the South Asia (Pakistan) to Oman (the Middle East) directly through Cross-sea Bridge or Undersea Tunnel, while, the Plan-B & Plan-C will connect the South Asia to the Middle East indirectly through Iran. The distance from Jiwani to Bala Boland & Bandar Abbas is 588km & 900km respectively. The Comparative Statement of proposed plans & Current State of Bridge & Tunnel in the world is as under:  

              Comparative Statement of Proposed Plans

                                                                                                                        Estimated Duration

                                                                   Estimated Cost                             of Construction

Description         Total            Depth    Crosssea      Undersea     Total       Bridge     Tunnel      Total

                           Distance     (In Mid)    Bridge          Tunnel          Cost                                            Period

                                                of Sea

Plan-A   353km    3326m   $18 Billion $23 Bil   $41.8 Bil   5 yrs   39 yrs    44 yrs           

Plan-B     75km     100m      $4 Billion   $5 Bil     $9.8 Bil    3 yrs   8 yrs     11 yrs

Plan-C    55km     104m       $3 Billion   $3.6 Bil   $7.4 Bil   2 yrs   6 yrs      8 yrs

Note: As the Bullet Train will also be commenced, so the cost of Bullet Train 
           is $80 Million per train is included in total cost of each Plan.

         Current State of Bridge & Undersea Tunnel in the World

                                                                                             Duration of

Description         Location                  Length  Tallness    Completion  Opened 

Longest Bridge     Danyang Kunshan     164.8km        -          5 years          2011           

                            Grand Bridge, China

Longest Crosssea  Jiaozhou Bay Bridge    42km         -           3 years         2011

Bridge                   China    

Tallest Height from  Stonecutter Bridge        -         73.5m        5 years        2009

Bridge Deck to        Hong Kong        

Sea level

Tallest Ship             Oasis of the Seas           -         72m          4 years        2011           

                               Bahamas  

Longest Undersea     Seikan Tunnel            54m         -             6 years       1988
Tunnel                      Japan                                                                            

Oasis of the Seas (World Tallest Ship)

Plan-A, is on strategically important position from both sides and also have enough required infrastructure for constructing bridge & tunnel, it will connect hustle bustle city of Muscat, Oman, in a very short time as “An Hour”, thus it will be then possible for people to take a cup of tea in Oman or Pakistan, within an hour by ultra speed of bullet train, which will be a tremendous achievement & ultimate development, especially for the Corporate World. For Plan-A, the best way of connection is Bridge-Tunnel or Submerged Floating Tunnel, because of its distance & chokepoint,  if constructed, it will be the “Longest Bridge or Tunnel” in the world, as this will be the 2^nd great honour / title for the Middle East, as the 1^st “World Tallest Building” title is also hold by the Middle East.

The proposed Plan-A, will be utilised not only by Pakistan but the countries around the border (i.e. India, China, Afghanistan, & Iran etc),  for the purpose of Import, Export & travel, most interesting thing is that the route will also be utilised for “Religious Tourism”, as well as by skilled & un-skilled workers to immigrate across the sea countries for global experience, as the total number of pilgrims (for Hajj at Saudi Arabia), & skilled & un-skilled workers from Pakistan & around the countries are 424,872 & 2,830,500, respectively, which will increase a handsome remittances & foreign investment as a part of an economic indicator, then, at first, Foreign Investment will increase, due to low exchange rate, availability of reasonable Skilled & Unskilled workers, cheap & fast travel, (within “an hour” visit from Oman), will also attract FDI & Multinational Companies, resultantly, opportunities for growth will raise, eventually GDP, livening standard will be high, in that the “Open Economic System” will start, which will increase the exchange rate. Thus, inflation will decrease and foreign reserves will grow awesomely, which undoubtedly is the symbol of development & prosperity of the Country, business & tourism.                 

As far as, relations between Pakistan and Oman are concerned, the same are characterised by friendliness, cooperation and common perception over regional and international issues. 30% of Omanis are of Balochi origin, and more than 85,000 Pakistani immigrants’ reside in Oman. However, for more real picture, the Comparative means of transpiration is as under, in which the difference of present & post scenario can clearly be seen:

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT BY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

(PRESENT SCENARIO)

BY SHIP (FOR CARGO)                                               

Between        Sailing      Duration         Average        Annual       Annual Total                                                         

                     Distance    (Average        Freight of    Containers   Freights

                       Port to     Ship Speed     Shipment        Traffic

                       Port)        12 knots/km)   

Pak to Oman  865km   1 day 15 hrs   Rs. 88,150/-   2473     Rs.217 Mil              

(Karachi to                                                                                      

Muscat Port) 

BY AIR (PASSENGER ONLY)

Between          Distance     Duration            Fare        Annual     Total Annual                     

            (Airport       Estimated                          Average       Fare                        

                        to Airport)   Time taken on                  Traffic

                                            Business Jet

Pak to Oman    885km         1 hour       Rs. 25,580/-   4250    Rs. 108.7 Mil     

(Karachi to Muscat)

(with Stopover)       

BY FERRY / CRUISER (PASSENGER ONLY)

Between            Distance    Duration         Fare            Annual    Total Annual                                           

                          (Port           Average                             Average      Fare                        

                          to Port)       Ship Speed                         Traffic

                                             12 Knot/km

Pak to Oman    865km      1 day 2 hrs    Rs. 25,000/-   4250    Rs.106 Mil  

(Karachi to Muscat Port)

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT BY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

(POST SCENARIO)

BY TRUCKS / LORRIES / TRAILERS (OVER PROPOSED BRIDGE,

FOR CARGO) (Rs.70/km)

Between      Distance   Duration               Shipment   Annual      Total Freight   

                                      Average               Average     Containers     

                                      Speed 120 km/h   Freight       Traffic

Pak to Oman   353km    3hrs 34 min    Rs.27,181/-  2473        Rs.67 Mil

BY BULLET TRAIN (PASSENGER ONLY) 

Between         Distance   Duration              Fare             Annual   Total Annual   

                                         Average               Rs.30/km    Average      Fare     

                                         Speed 580 km/h                        Traffic

Pak to Oman   353km      1 hour          Rs.10,590/-     4250       Rs.45 Mill 

BY FLYING COACHES (OVER PROPOSED BRIDGE, 

(PASSENGER ONLY)

Between       Distance  Duration              Fare           Annual     Total Annual   

                                      Average               Rs.2/km     Average   Fare       

                                      Speed 140 km/h                      Traffic

Pak to Oman   353km   2hrs 52 min       Rs. 706/-     4250     Rs.3 Mil

RELIGIOUS TOURISM (PASSENGER ONLY)

Between      Distance  Duration              Fare         Annual       Total Annual   

                                     By Bullet Train   Average   Traffic         Fare                                                                     

                                     & Local Tpt        Traffic

Pak , Oman  1882km    9 hours       Rs. 13,648/- 180,000    Rs.2.456 Bil      

to Saudi Arabia

Plan-B, is less important for the South Asia (Pakistan), as the distance from Pishin Road, Kurumb border to Bala Boland is 588km (8 hours drive), plus the bridge distance 75km. it will connect the South Asian or Pakistan to Middle East in 09 hours, for Iran the plan is on priority No.1, because the distance is only 75 km. The relationship of Iran with the other Middle Eastern Countries is fair, due to many issues & reasons but relationship with Oman has a tradition of cooperation dating back to the Shah of Iran’s regime. Iran has total US$ 934,633 trade with Middle Eastern Countries, which indicates good trade relation. The relationship may further be boosted with construction of the Cross-sea Bridge or Undersea Tunnel.   

Plan-C, is the best route for Iran because it has only 55km distance to connect Oman, but the Island is about 25km far from Port city of Bandar Abbas as well as to connect the Khammasi Island two mini bridges from City of Bandar Abbas to Qishem Island and then Qishem Island to Khammasi is to be built which will increase the distance as well as cost, the total distance will be then 80km, thus it is not suitable for Iran, as well as, this plan is very far and has no value for the South Asian Countries. However, beside the shortest distance of bridge, the plan is on priority No.2 for Iran. As this is a chokepoint and there also located many tiny islands, in the way of the proposed plan in Strait of Hormuz, which are the major hurdles for ship traffic. So the bridge is not suitable here, only Undersea Tunnel can be built.

King Fahd Causeway - between Saudi Arabia & Bahrian

The proposed plan will be built on “Joint Venture”, as the development budget of Pakistan & Oman is 16 Billion (for 2010-2011) & for Iran & Oman is 25 Billion, so Budget for development purposes is available enough to meet the estimated expenditure of the plan on the basis of year to year work. As it is one time investment, the gain from the bridge or undersea tunnel will return the investment in a very short time, due to its strategic position. Since King Fahd Causeway, (link between Saudi Arabia & Bahrain), enjoy the friendship & profitability from the causeway, as upto 60000 vehicles using the causeway only on weekends & 45000 on weekdays. Moreover, other same development projects are also planned & under consideration, such as Qatar-Bahrian Causeway (Planned to be completed in 2015), (this will reduce time of travel from 5 hour via Saudia Arabia to about 30 minutes only), and UAE-Qatar Causeway (proposed plan), (From Abu Dhabi to Doha, it will complete distance between two destination in 4 hours instead of 12 hours from desert via Saudia Arabia).   

Qatar - Bahrain Causeway (Planned)

UAE - Qatar Causeway (Proposed) 

After all, Weather condition along the plans sides are fine, only a cyclone Gonu, once hit Muscat in 2007, which is a natural disaster, but no any other noticeable incident has been found in last century (which is a positive indication). However, many facts & figure in this regard has been collected & compiled in the project (complete project is available), in that, the suitability, affordability & profitability is much high as compare to present day situation the plan will have a great positive impact on the nations across the sea.

Anyhow, your golden suggestions, especially, from Civil Engineers about the project will be highly appreciated. Your likeness & spreading of this link will make it possible to gain the “World Longest Bridge or Undersea Tunnel” title in our name.