Musk's firm plans to build underground road network in Riyadh

Cairo: Elon Musk's infrastructure and tunnel construction services company plans to present a proposal to Saudi authorities for building an underground road network in the capital Riyadh, according to a Saudi media report. 

The Boring Company's plan comes after Musk's US manufacturer of electric automobiles Tesla announced the launch of its electric cars in the Saudi market on April 10 (tomorrow), reported the Saudi news portal Sabq.

Deemed one of the world's fast-growing cities, Riyadh’s population is projected to rise from 7 million in 2022 to around 9.6 million by the end of this decade. 

Underground transportation projects represent an innovative solution to alleviate traffic congestion in major cities like Riyadh, which are experiencing rapid population growth and urban expansion.

The Boring Company has implemented similar projects in several cities around the world, including the Las Vegas tunnel in the United States, which was specifically designed for electric vehicles.

In February, The Boring Company and the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai signed a memorandum of understanding to construct 17 kilometres of underground roads, similar to the one implemented in Las Vegas.

The initial Dubai pilot project will have 11 stations and 17km of tunnel and will transport over 20,000 passengers per hour, with the goal of ultimately expanding into Dubai Loop, a next generation underground transportation system throughout the emirate.

The Dubai Loop project could cut travel time between key points in Dubai to just minutes, according to The Boring Company. The initiative also seeks to promote sustainability by utilizing electric vehicles within a controlled environment, thus contributing to Dubai's ambitious sustainability goals, aligning with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. 

In 2013, Musk unveiled his vision for hyperloops, an ultra-high-speed public transportation system in which passengers travel in autonomous electric pods at hypersonic speeds.