2011 start date for construction of Abu Dhabi Metro

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 said on Monday.

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.

“We expect to receive proposals in a few days from consultant firms on the feasibility study,” he said.

“By the end of stage one of the study in February 2010 we will know about what will be implemented (in the system).”

He said a tender for construction of the project would be issued following the completion of the study, which was expected to take 18 months.

Construction would start soon after, he added.

Contrary to media reports, no decision had yet been taken on the size of the system, which could be “30km or 40km less” than the 130km length widely reported, Elshabani said.

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.

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