Excavation
Begins on Tunnels for Joint Omani-Emirati Rail Network Project
Al
Buraimi, 8 Oct (ONA) — Hafeet Rail, the developer and operator of the Joint
Omani-Emirati Railway Network Project, announced today the start of tunnel
excavation work in the Al Hajar Mountains in the Al Buraimi Governorate. This
marks a major qualitative launch for one of the most critical and
transformative stages of the project.
The
company added that it has achieved a series of key milestones in the execution
of this strategic cross-border project, confirming that work is proceeding
steadily and according to the scheduled timeline. Detailed design work has been
completed.
Access
roads leading to the tunnel entrances have been constructed to allow heavy
equipment and construction materials to reach the sites. Drilling and blasting
work is currently ongoing at the tunnel entrances in preparation for the full
excavation phase.
Following
the completion of the civil work for the tunnels, subsequent phases will
involve forming the track structure, laying the rails, and implementing the
rail systems inside them.
This
work is being executed according to the highest standards of safety,
sustainability, and environmental protection, utilizing advanced engineering
techniques and monitoring systems to ensure structural integrity, protect
nearby residential areas, and mitigate the project’s environmental impact.
Hafeet
Rail has already received its first shipment of railway tracks via Sohar Port,
a significant achievement reflecting continuous progress toward the rail-laying
stage. In parallel, construction work is advancing in other areas, including
excavation, backfilling, and infrastructure construction, such as the
implementation of 881 wadi drainage culverts and 57 bridges, some reaching a
height of up to 34 meters.
With
the progress in tunnel work, these achievements constitute a pivotal step that
brings the Joint Omani-Emirati Rail Network Project closer to becoming one of
the most prominent enablers of regional connectivity, boosting cross-border
trade, and supporting the path toward sustainable economic growth.
—Ends/AG
