Qatar’s Transport Ministry has invited firms to prequalify by 24 December for the pre-conceptual design of the much-delayed Sharq Crossing scheme.

The project has undergone a value engineering study in 2016, whose results were approved by the client.

MEED earlier reported that the budget, initially estimated at $12bn, is awaiting final approval from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“Our understanding is that they were looking at releasing a tender before the end of 2018,” one source told MEED earlier this year.

Spain’s Santiago Calatrava prepared an initial concept design for the crossing, which includes three bridges connected by subsea tunnels. The three bridges were to link Hamad International airport with the Katara cultural district in the northern part of the capital Doha and with the central business area of West Bay.

Prior to this development, there were talks of re-scoping the project including a proposal to exclude the planned subsea tunnels and building only one instead of three bridges.

MEED understands the procurement options being considered include public-private partnership (PPP) as well as splitting the total cost of the project between the government and private investors.

However, a source familiar with the project tells MEED that a PPP model is unlikely to work unless the project is re-scoped due to Qatar’s small population and the low ratio of car ownership against the total population.

A team comprising Qatar National Bank (QNB), UK-based Arup and PwC undertook and completed the value engineering study for the scheme in 2016.

The Sharq Crossing scheme was officially announced in December 2013. The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) began prequalifying contractors for a number of packages the following year. However, progress slowed later that year and the decision not to hire a consultant to prepare the tender documents led to a speculation that the project has been put on hold.

Sources close to the project said in 2015 that although the Transport Ministry, which was formed in 2014, was reviewing the project, Ashghal is still responsible for the delivery.