Kuwait’s Partnerships Technical Bureau says the masterplan for Kuwait’s masterplan will now be ready in March 2010.

The company remains undecided on whether to tender the contract to build the metro as one or more packages.

The Partnerships Technical Bureau also says it plans to issue a request for proposals for the country’s metro network shortly.

The company says it has received a number of expressions of interest from consultants for the project. The deadline for submissions was 22 November.

In January, MEED reported that the $7bn scheme will involve construction of a 171-kilometre-long inner-city metro with four lines running across Kuwait City. About 60km of the network will be underground (MEED 18:01:09).

The winning developer will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the metro network.

A consortium of local companies called the Kuwait Overland Transport Union is developing the project.

The UK’s Atkins leads a consortium that includes the US’ Parsons Brinckerhoff and local firm Gulf Consult to create a masterplan for both the metro and a national rail network that will eventually link up with the GCC rail network.