Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication has shortlisted three major companies – Al Zayani Engineering, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers Middle East (PwC) – for providing transaction advisory and consultancy services to Phase One of its ambitious metro project.

Part of the kingdom’s Public Transport Masterplan 2030, Bahrain Metro is estimated to cost between $1 billion and $2 billion. The project, which will boast 184 km of transit network comprising six lines, is being implemented in four phases. In Phase One, two lines – running 30 km – will be constructed covering 20 stations.

A total of eight bids were received by the ministry, according to a Bahrain Tender Board notice.

The ministry had floated consultancy tenders in February following the completion of a feasibility study. According to the ministry, the winning firm will be required to provide financial, technical and legal consultancy services to prepare documents for the tender of the design, construction and operation of Phase One of the metro project. These transaction advisory services will include (but not be limited to) providing support to the ministry in the preparation of documents, tender, evaluation and appointment of the preferred bidder, it added.