Construction of a metro system in Abu Dhabi could start in 2011 after the completion of a feasibility study, due to start in August, a senior transport official has revealed.
No decision had yet been taken on the scale of the system, with the study determining the metro’s length, which could span between 90 km and 130 km, said Abu Dhabi Department of Transport senior transportation planning specialist Abdelgader Elshabani.
The department would receive proposals by May 27 from consultancy firms for a contract to complete the feasibility study, but Elshabani refused to say which companies were expected to submit bids.
The selected firm would start the study in August, with stage one examining options for the length, transport capacity and cost of the metro, Elshabani added.
Abu Dhabi is looking to improve public transport to ease congestion in a city where the population is projected to more than triple to 3.2 million by 2030
The emirate is also planning a 340km light rail and tram network that links to Dubai, Al Ain and the western region in the UAE, in addition to a 580km high-speed rail system connecting Abu Dhabi to the rest of the country and other GCC states.
Read the full version of this story on arabianbusiness.com.
