The kingdom of Saudi Arabia unveiled vison 2030 as it’s pathway to the future which aims to reduce the country’s dependence on oil, instead diversifying its economy. The crown prince announced 3 greater neon initiatives, The Oxagon, The Trojena and The Line city. Later In 2021, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman announced plans for a new kind of sci -fi city called “THE LINE”. The line has been hailed ever since as futuristic economy north of the red sea with no cars, no streets and no carbon emission. The Saudi Government says it will create housing for more than 9 million people. It’s no brainer that the RSA has been attempting to rebrand itself on the world stage, looking to the UAE as a template for a post oil economy.
PULLING THE CURTAINS OF THE LINE
It was only after July of 2022 that we got our first glimpse
at what a linear city could actually look like and it’s unlike anything we’ve
ever seen before, all of the people who were present in the ceremony were left
with their eyebrows raised. The city would essentially be sandwiched between 2
enormous buildings that rise 500m into the sky and then stretch 170km into the
desert. The buildings would also be mirrored, to impose minimal impact upon the
environment. The 200m wide gap in between the skyscrapers is where the city
would lie. Here will be a high-speed rail line connecting residents end to end
in 20 minutes, eliminating the needs for cars or roads. Homes, public parks,
schools, offices will be layered on top of each other meaning that everything
will be accessible within a 5-minute walk.
THE LINE,
DOOMED TO FAIL?
This project claims that it would generate zero carbon
emissions, but how could this megaproject be in any sense sustainable? Experts
have evaluated that it’s construction would produce more than 1.8 billion tons of
CO2 ,equivalent to more than 4 years od the UK’s entire emissions.
Bio futurists also claim that line’s design of horizontal stretch and vertical
reach would have impacts on animals that migrate across the region. Also, this
project is full of violations as there have been turbulent violent efforts to
relocate the indigenous residents of this site. The tribal people have been
displaced and homes have been demolished without adequate compensating, one
tribal man has been murdered in cold blood and 3 tribal members have been
sentenced to death for raising their voice against being disrupted by this
project.
MBS claims that the
vertical city eases urban barriers that currently limit social inclusion. However,
what we know is a drop, what we don’t know is an ocean. Experts weigh in that
these goals are unfeasible. The plan for a miles long line with a width that
can be walked in a matter of seconds, if not minutes is quite questionable. To
support that level of public transport, line would require larger nodes capable
of holding a significant number of people. The technology needed for its
proposed transit system is also many decades away. Travelling 106 miles in 20
minutes would require a speed of 318 mph, in comparison the fastest hyperloop
tests so far have been topped out at 288 mph without any passengers. The line
is also nestled in a dry climate and has to combat its water supply issues with
desalination plants, powered by fossil fuels.
As a matter of fact, this project’s bet on nonexistent
technology is a blatant pilot experimental project entrenched in technological skeptics.
Will Saudi Arabia leave everyone with their hands on their head after
completing this project successfully? Or as the experts foretold, will this
project end up like the Jeddah tower? Time awaits!!!!
- Prajwal Gautam
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