7 firms bid for feasibility study of extension of Bahrain Metro Phase 1 Corridor

Bahrain (Urban Transport News): The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications of Bahrain has received a total of 7 (seven) bids for conducting a feasibility study for extending the Phase 1 corridor of the Bahrain Metro Rail Project.

The sevens firms which have submitted their bids are IDOM Consulting Engineering Architecture SAU Foreign Branch Co., AECOM Middle East Limited Foreign Branches Company, Consolidated Engineering Company Khatib & Alami Foreign Branch Company, Rina Consulting SPA - Abu Dhabi, SENER Ingenieria y Sistemas SA, IDOM Consulting Engineering Architecture SAU Foreign Branch Co. and Dar Al Handash Consultants.

As per sources, the bids range between BHD 165,528.000 and BHD 598,500.000. Rina Consulting SPA - Abu Dhabi emerged as the lowest bidder. However, the tender board is saying that the lowest bidder may not necessarily win the contract because winning the contract depends on fulfilling technical criteria and other requirements, following which price shall become the principal criterion. 

The tender was called for conducting the feasibility study of extending the Bahrain Metro Phase 1 Corridor from King Hamad Railway Station at Al Ramli to the new Sports City and the International Exhibition Centre at Sakhir. The scope of work of the contract includes evaluation of alternative corridors, demand study and station allocation, concept and preliminary design of corridor and cost estimate of the project.

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications said:

We are looking forward to appointing a technical consultant to study the feasibility of the route for completion in the first phase. The study will evaluate the possibilities of a different alternative corridor, the project's economic benefit, station allocation, concept and preliminary design of the corridor and cost estimate of the project.

The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) has selected a team for the early stages of the project, including KPMG as the lead and financial advisor, Egis Rail, France as a technical advisor, and DLA Piper as a legal advisor. In March 2021, the MTT held a virtual market forum titled “Bahrain Metro Market Consultation”, showcasing the project to regional and international investors.

During the virtual forum, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, had said:

Through the Bahrain Metro project, MTT aspires to apply the latest technology that is up to international standards. This marks an important milestone as it will improve the quality of life of citizens by providing a fast, comfortable, reliable, and sustainable transportation system in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The Bahrain Metro project will consist of developing an extensive 109 km rail-based urban transit network in a phased manner comprising four transit lines. 

Phase 1 comprises two lines with an estimated length of 28.6 km and includes 20 stations with two interchanges. The two lines aim to connect the key transit points including Bahrain International Airport as well as major residential areas, commercial areas and school districts.

The project is part of the kingdom’s Public Transport Masterplan 2030, which has recommended the development of a 184 km urban transit network comprising six lines.

The project will be implemented in four phases. In Phase One, two lines of length running 30 km will be constructed covering 20 stations. The Red Line will link Bahrain International Airport with the suburban Seef District through the Bahrain Financial Harbour, serving 9 stations.

The Blue Line will commence from the Juffair suburb and go through the Diplomatic Area before finishing at Isa Town, serving 11 stations. 

Bahrain Metro Rail project is expecting a cost between US$1 and US$2 billion. The project is the latest in a series of large-scale projects in Bahrain, worth $32bn within the transportation, industrial, hospitality, and retail sectors through public and private investments.