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Local firms to win major works on multi-billion railway project
The proposed multi-billion dollar rail project is likely to award about 70 to 80 percent of major construction works to local firms, an official in Qatar revealed.
The proposed rail-road network aims to operate on four major routes, linking several areas of the country to one another.
According to the Vice Chief Executive Officer of Qatari Diar, Dr. Hassan Al Fudallah, the three mega railway projects are the over-ground railways covering entire Qatar and eventually linking it to the rest of GCC, the cargo trains, and the metro network within Greater Doha.
The metro network will have four routes – Red Route (starting from Mesaieed and linking New Doha International Airport, Lusail and downtown Doha reaching Al Khor and Al Shamal), Green Route and Yellow Route (linking eastern Doha to the west), and the Blue Route (running along C-Ring Road).
Work on the QR133.5bn railway project will begin after completing the preliminary studies.
The metro rail project will cover a total distance of 354kms running at 80 to 160kms per hour, while the ground rail network will cover a total distance of 345kms and cover the entire country and passenger electric trains will run at 220 to 350kms per hour. This network will be linked to GCC railways by 2017. Cargo trains covering major economic centers in Qatar will run at a speed of 120kms per hour.
The projects will be completed in phases until 2016, taking into account the bid by Qatar to host the football World Cup in 2022.
Explaining the benefits of mega transportation project, Al Fudallah said, the project offers the country with a sophisticated mode of transportation, and hence support the plan by Qatar to achieve sustainable development.
Apart from the economical and social advantages, the project will also leave a positive impact on the environment, while also cutting fuel consumption by cars. About 70 to 80 percent of the project will comprise construction work, and it is hoped that the project will be a major boost to local contracting companies.
Posted on 1/3/2010
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