MEED reported that 4 contracting groups are bidding for a SAR 3.75 billion Finance Ministry contract to build a monorail at Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University for Women in Riyadh.

The bidders are Saudi Oger with Canada's Bombardier; Saudi Binladin Group with Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation; the local El-Seif Engineering & Contracting with Germany's Siemens and the local Al-Arrab Contracting Company with Malaysia's Scomi Engineering. Another group, Saudi Freyssinet with Italy's Ansaldo, also pre-qualified.

One source involved with the bidding said that "Four groups submitted prices. The prices are quite close, so there is no clear front runner."

The contract involves building an 11 kilometer long monorail network elevated 10 meters above the ground, which will link the facilities at the university.

Beirut based Dar al-Handasah is the consultant on the project, which should take 3 years to complete.

In January, the university awarded 3 packages totalling SAR 30 billion. Saudi Oger won one package, worth SAR 12.5 billion, while Saudi Binladin won another, worth SAR 10 billion. UAE based Arabtec Construction is working on this package as a subcontractor to Saudi Binladin. It is Arabtec's first project in the kingdom.

(Sourced from MEED)