EXCLUSIVE: Bahrain to award light rail contract

18 March 2018
Detailed study for the planned Bahrain light rail network expected to be completed in May

Bahrain’s Transport and Telecommunications Ministry expects to select a consultant to draft the request for proposal (RFP) for the transaction advisory contract on the Bahrain light rail network project imminently, sources familiar with the project tell MEED.

Transport and Telecommunications Minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed last month told MEED  the under-study light rail network will be procured using a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

He also said they will start preparing the transaction adviser RFP as soon as the study by Spanish firm Idom Consulting Engineering Architecture is completed in May.

The $2.43m contract with Idom covers a study of the existing transport system in Bahrain; preparing plans for a proposed network and phases; selecting the best technology for the different phases; the preliminary design of the first phase of the network; the cost of implementing phase 1; and the best method to procure phase 1 of the network.

The study was initially expected to be completed in September last year.

However, the contract has been extended due to the ministry’s request for more detailed work in terms of the specifications, alignment and number of stations, as well as the financial business case and the preparation of the prequalification documents.

“We want to make sure all these [preparatory works] are completed to ensure we have minimum risk with the project,” Mohammed said.

 

 

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