Bids Received for Bahrain Metro Consultancy, Design Contract

Bahrain's Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications has received bids from seven leading companies for providing consultancy and preliminary design services for an alternative corridor, as part of the kingdom's metro project, which is estimated to cost between US$1 to US$2 billion.

The scope of work includes feasibility study for extending the metro corridor from King Hamad Railway Station to the new Bahrain Sports City and the International Exhibition Centre at Sakhir area, according to the Bahrain Tender Board website.

The work also involves evaluation of different alternative corridor, demand study and station allocation, concept and preliminary design of corridor and cost estimate of the project, it added.

An ambitious project for the kingdom, the Bahrain Metro will boast four lines totaling 109 km, which is set to be implemented in multiple phases.

The 28.6-km Phase I will be operate through two lines - The Red and Blue Line - and will comprise 20 stations, including two interchanges, said the ministry in a statement.

The Red Line will connect Bahrain International Airport to Seef District through Airport Avenue and King Faisal Highway, while the Blue Line will run from Juffair, via the Diplomatic Area, Manama, Al Farouq Junction and Salmaniya, to Isa Town Educational Area, it stated.

On completion, the MTT said it will be able to carry 43,000 passengers per hour and is intended to reduce road traffic congestion in the kingdom.

Those in the race include Spanish engineering and construction group Sener Ingenieria y Sistemas, Abu Dhabi-based Rina Consulting and leading design and engineering firm Dar Al Handasah Consultants (Shair & Partners) in addition to four Bahrain-based companies - Consolidated Engineering Company Khatib & Alami; Aecom Middle East; Mohamed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau and Idom Consulting Engineering Architecture.

Bahrain's first rail-based mass transit system will be carried out through a public-private partnership (PPP).

MTT has already appointed a team for the early stages of the project, including Anglo-Dutch multinational professional services firm KPMG as the lead and financial advisor; Egis, France, as a technical advisor; and multinational law firm DLA Piper as legal advisor, said the statement from the ministry.

Bahrain Metro is part of the kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to enhance its economic sustainability, competitiveness and fairness over the next 10 years, it added.