Saudi Arabia plans to start building the smart eco-city in March, according to an article in the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” (NZZ). The Line will be built along a 170-kilometre straight line in the desert and is expected to cost up to 200 billion dollars. A so-called Smart City, it will one day be home to a million inhabitants living in harmony with nature. To achieve climate-neutrality, cars will be replaced by an underground high-speed transit line and solar power will be used to desalinate salt water for drinking water.
The Line drives forward the Neom project, an urban business development still in its early stages despite plans being unveiled three years ago. With The Line, the project is aiming for an ecological and climate-friendly approach. “Why should we sacrifice nature for the sake of development?” said the Crown Prince in a broadcast on state TV. “We need to transform the concept of a conventional city into that of a futuristic one.”
The plans ensure that inhabitants will be no further than a five-minute walk from essential services. More details are expected to follow at a later date, despite construction of the city starting in the first quarter of this year.
