Bahrain approves plan for monorail system

Bahrain's government has approved plans for a monorail train network to ease traffic congestion in Manama.

The Cabinet has unveiled ambitious plans to overhaul public transportation through introducing the Monorail Metro, similar to the project being built in Dubai.

Government officials have ordered an extensive feasibility study into the first phase of the project to take place, Gulf Daily News reported on Monday.

"The initiative stems from the government's resolve to decongest Bahrain's roads and pre-empt mounting traffic challenges, Cabinet Affairs Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatala Al Khalifa said.

The proposed three-stage plan is expected to be complete by 2030.

Dubai's $4.2 billion Metro project is scheduled to be complete by September 2009 while Kuwait is also looking to introduce a rapid transit system to help ease the growing problem of traffic congestion.