Doha Metro activity to set pick up in coming months

Doha Metro activity will pick up in the coming months with Qatar pushing ahead with its massive transport infrastructure, Meed has said in a report.

Doha Metro’s “Gold” and “Green” lines are expected to be awarded by June this year, while the rolling stock and systems contracts will be handed out early next year and the operations and maintenance packages in 2015, the report said.

According to Meed, $17bn worth of projects are up for grabs.

Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has lined up some 30 highway projects in 2013. As of February, a total of $1.88bn has already been awarded, including the $640mn Package 13 on the Doha Expressway.

“Without a doubt, 2013 is a pivotal year for Qatar’s transportation programmes. Never has there been a better time for companies skilled with managing and servicing major infrastructure projects to enter and expand their presence in one of the world’s fastest growing projects markets,” said Edmund O’ Sullivan, Meed Events chairman.

In addition to the Expressway programme, the massive transport schemes that have yet to be awarded include the local roads and drainage programme, the integrated rail programme, Lusail city development as well as various bridges, tunnels air and maritime port expansion projects.

With the FIFA 2022 World Cup less than a decade away, there is a greater urgency for Qatar to award transport projects that will be critical to the country’s successful staging of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle, the report said.

In particular, there has been a massive interest in Qatar’s high speed and freight rail projects, the first phase of which involves the 195km freight line linking Mesaieed Port to Ras Laffan. The next phase will focus on the construction of the 150km high-speed connection to Bahrain, and the final phase will involve the construction of a 165km network linking Dukhan to Al-Shamal and Doha.

Meed Events is organising the “4th Annual Qatar Transport Conference” in Doha on May 28 and 29.

Organisers say the conference has been designed to provide a comprehensive guide to Qatar’s multibillion dollar projects market and detail where the business and investment opportunities will be in the coming 12-18 months.

Delegates attending the conference can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of where the huge transport infrastructure budget will be invested for the rest of 2013, as well as be able to correctly anticipate the investments and projects activities that will be made until 2018.

Among the experts confirmed to speak at the conference is Essa Mohamed Ali Kaldari, Lusail Real Estate Development Company chief executive officer, who will deliver the keynote address. His presentation will focus on the vision for the Lusail development.

Other presentations and panel discussions will cover the entire spectrum of transport projects in Qatar, including rail, ports, freight, and airport developments.